The Knesset Research & Information Center State of Israel The Knesset Research & Information Center August 2005 The 21 st Conference on Library and Research Services for Parliaments & The 71 st IFLA Conference, Oslo, 2005 Dr. Jacob Warshavsky Director of the Knesset Research & Information Center JW -1

The Knesset Research & Information Center August 2005 JW- 2 What is the role of the Research & Information Services in the Parliamentary Processes?

The Knesset Research & Information Center August 2005 To provide service to the parliament To be the first resource the parliamentarians consult with when in need for R&I To improve legislative decision making To provide expertise on legislation To strengthen Democracy JW- 3 To see what everyone sees, To analyze and understand what no one understood before The Added Value

The Knesset Research & Information Center August 2005 The Conceptual Model Analytical Analysis Empirical Research Attitude Measurement Illustration of Findings Mapping Procedures Data Analysis Survey Frame of Reference The Knesset The RIC JW- 4

The Knesset Research & Information Center August 2005 Single Chamber 120 Members (MKs’) 13 Parliamentary Groups (16 th Knesset) 12 Permanent committees (Constitution, Economics, Foreign Affairs & Defense, Finance…) 5 Ad-Hoc committees 30+ MKs - Ministers & Deputies Unique characteristic – “Intensive Legislator” Ann. average of laws passed ~100 Ann. average of bills presented ~ 1000 Ann. average of bills presented by MKs’ ~ 844 JW- 5

The Knesset Research & Information Center August 2005 Annual # of research papers ( ) ~ 500 Total: Researchers (Economists, Social Sc., Lawyers, Interdisciplinary, part time jobs, Av Age 30+ …) JW- 6 Director Technology Department Information Department Research Department Economics & Finance Department Committees Logistic Coordinator Help Desk Secretary Standards Desk Heads Team Leaders Law Social Comparative Economics

The Knesset Research & Information Center August 2005 JW- 7 “There are three ways to advance knowledge, The first two being the two forms of logic, induction and deduction. The third is the search for a significant structure.” Bertrand Russell, My Philosophical Development, The purpose of the presentation is to identify and structure the operative strategic goals of Research and Information organizations within Parliamentary Processes.

The Knesset Research & Information Center August 2005 The Scope of Services Facts & Figures Information Briefings Analysis Applied Research Presentations Attitude Measurement What ought to be? What should be done? How should be delivered? Normative Approach Analytical Analysis - a rationalistic mode that focuses on the laws, rules and processes that underlie parliamentary work in order to identify the relevant research services that should be embedded in the parliamentary processes. What is? When it is? Where? Whether the service is relevant? Positive Approach Empirical Analysis - a study that transforms the requests of MPs and parliamentary committees into generalizations regarding the usage of R&I services. Attitude Measurement - a survey that examines MPs’ opinions and perceptions regarding the services provided by a research and information department JW- 8 Legislation Supervision of Government Debate of Public Issues Rules & Procedures

The Knesset Research & Information Center August 2005 The Speaker & Deputies 3 rd Reading 2 nd Reading Approval of Law Private bill Preliminary Reading Deliberation in Committee 1 st Reading Committee bill Preparation in Committee Government bill JW-9

The Knesset Research & Information Center August 2005 Preparation of the bill by the MK, with assistance from the Legal Department Approval by the Knesset Presidium First Reading Tabling of the Bill Deliberation in a Knesset committee Publication of bill in Official Gazette Preliminary Reading Second Reading Voting on reservations, if any, and on individual articles of the bill Third Reading Voting on the entire bill including reservations already accepted 45 days Continuation of deliberation in committee, with reservations foragainst (6 months) foragainst (6 months) foragainst (6 months) Publication of the law in the Official Gazette and the Law Book foragainst JW- 10

The Knesset Research & Information Center August 2005 Approval of laws presented by the Government Demanding Information from the Government (Plenum & Committees) Presentation and Deliberations in the State Control Committee Public debates on matters of state (Plenum & Committees) JW- 11

The Knesset Research & Information Center August 2005 Analysis of requests for R.I.C Services according to functions of the legislative branch Requests from committeesRequests from MK's Legislation - 55% Personal – 4% Public agenda – 6% Supervisor y - 35% Legislation -21% Internal – 1% Public agenda – 13% Supervisor y – 65% JW- 12 Requests from committeesRequests from MK'sRequests from committeesRequests from MK'sRequests from committeesRequests from MK's Analysis of requests for R.I.C Services according to functions of the legislative branch Requests from committeesRequests from MK's

The Knesset Research & Information Center August 2005 Analysis of requests for R.I.C Services according to type of document requested Requests from committeesRequests from MK's Comparative Analysis (Legislation) 10% Economic Analysis 1% Presentation of issue 76% Data / Information (Israel) 7% Comparative (General) 6% Comparative Analysis (Legislation) 27% Economic Analysis 16% Presentation of issue 13% Data / Information (Israel) 38% Comparative (General) 6% JW- 13

The Knesset Research & Information Center August 2005 JW- 14 Type of information you are interested in receiving from R.I.C Raw information data onlypresentation of issue positions on the issue international comparison Critical analysis Recommendations for action

The Knesset Research & Information Center August 2005 *On a scale of 1-10 Reliability of Information* 9 33% 10 53% 8 14% 9 33% 10 24% >5 5% 8 38% Quality of Information* 9 38% 10 24% >7 14% 8 24% Timeliness * 9 29% 10 24% >7 14% 8 33% Scope of Information* JW- 15

The Knesset Research & Information Center August 2005 PERCEPTIONS PROCEDURES PROCESSESEMPIRIALDATAREALITY ATTITUDE JW- 16

The Knesset Research & Information Center State of Israel The Knesset Research & Information Center August 2005 Dr. Jacob Warshavsky JW- 17