International Standards for the Functioning of Democratic Legislatures Francisco Herrero Senior Resident Director Colombia

Development of the Standards “Toward the Development of International Standards for Democratic Legislatures” (2007) “Toward the Development of International Standards for Democratic Legislatures” (2007) Existing practice Existing practice International declarations / statements International declarations / statements Resulting benchmarks Resulting benchmarks Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) Assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) Southern African Development Community – Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) Southern African Development Community – Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF)

Questionnaire Based on Standards Based on Standards Measure perception gap between Measure perception gap between Real powers of the legislature Real powers of the legislature Powers legislators exercise in practice Powers legislators exercise in practice As viewed by As viewed by Legislators Legislators Legislative staff Legislative staff Civil society organizations Civil society organizations Useful for diagnostic or reform efforts Useful for diagnostic or reform efforts

Questions Election and Status (2) Immunity (1) Immunity (1) Remuneration/Benefits (1) Remuneration/Benefits (1) Organization (11) Procedure (2) Procedure (2) Committees (3) Committees (3) Caucuses (3) Caucuses (3) Parliamentary Staff (3) Parliamentary Staff (3) Functions (7) Legislative (4) Legislative (4) Oversight (2) Oversight (2) Representational (1) Representational (1) Values (4) Accessibility (2) Accessibility (2) Transparency/Integrity (1) Transparency/Integrity (1) Public Consultation (1) Public Consultation (1)

Implementation 2008 pilot in Bosnia-Herzegovina 2008 pilot in Bosnia-Herzegovina 2009 participating countries 2009 participating countries Colombia Colombia Guatemala Guatemala Peru Peru Serbia Serbia

Methodology Guided interview Guided interview Administered by NDI staff Administered by NDI staff 25 two-part sets of statements 25 two-part sets of statements Formal powers Formal powers Actual practice Actual practice

Oversight Legally, committees have the power of summons to examine persons, papers and records, including witnesses and evidence from the executive branch. In practice, committees have summoned persons, papers and records, including witnesses and evidence from the executive branch.

Oversight (All)

Oversight (Colombia)

Budget Legally, the legislature has the power to amend the budget before approving it. In practice, the legislature amended the budget before approving it.

Budget (All)

Budget (Colombia)

Next Steps Further analysis of results Further analysis of results Why? Why? Share with legislators and staff Share with legislators and staff Identify areas of potential reform Identify areas of potential reform Promote full use of legislature’s powers Promote full use of legislature’s powers