Parliaments are at the centre of democratic government, and have three key functions – lawmaking, oversight and representation. Lawmaking involves drafting and shaping laws that govern society, while oversight is about monitoring and supervising the executive and ensuring that policies are prescribed and enforced by law. Finally, representatives represent their constituents in the debate and deliberations that take place in their houses and in committees. The effectiveness with which parliaments carry out these roles is crucial for the quality of democracy.
Parliamentarians scrutinise the executive by questioning government ministers in plenary sessions or in select committees. Parliamentarians can also hold the government to account by applying for ‘Urgent Questions’, which require a minister to appear in Parliament to explain a particular policy. The annual parliamentary estimates process allows MPs to scrutinise the executive’s proposed future spending. In the most extreme case, if the government is found to be failing in its duties, it can lose the support of Parliament through a no-confidence motion. This can lead to the Government resigning or a General Election being called.
In addition, parliamentarians are expected to promote a vibrant civil society, which can help in developing solutions to problems that parliaments are not able to solve themselves, and in improving the quality of legislation and public policy. This is often facilitated through a wide range of educational activities, including public tours; tours for primary and secondary students; curriculum resources; and Parliamentary Education Office publications.