Publication: Strengthening Oversight by Legislatures
Date
2003-09
ISSN
Published
2003-09
Author(s)
World Bank
Abstract
About 90 percent of the world's
nearly 200 sovereign states have national legislatures or
parliaments. With the spread of democracy and the rise of
multiparty political systems, these bodies are playing
larger roles in government. Increasingly, legislatures and
their members perform four important functions of
governance: Making policies and laws. Legislatures are
representative bodies for collective decision-making,
working with the executive branch to deliberate policies and
make laws. Representing citizens. Legislators give voice to
individual citizens, civil society organizations, and
business groups, representing the needs of local
constituents in policymaking. Overseeing the executive.
Legislatures oversee policy implementation by the executive
branch, scrutinizing its work and holding it accountable.
Recruiting future leaders. Legislatures are stepping stones
and training grounds for senior positions in the executive branch.
Citation
“World Bank. 2003. Strengthening Oversight by Legislatures. Africa Region Findings; No. 230. © Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/5bc15f52-30b0-5456-abfd-b2cab3f66871 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”