Dimension: 1.5.1 Mandates of the parliamentary administration
This dimension concerns the existence of a parliamentary administration, as well as its mandates, powers, governance and responsibilities.
For reasons of effectiveness and capacity, it is important that the parliamentary administration be separate from, and operate independently of, the executive. Likewise, the parliamentary administration should be able to recruit and manage its staff, and organize its day-to-day work, without political influence.
The parliamentary administration should report publicly on its work, monitor and evaluate its performance and seek to continually improve its services.
See also Dimension 1.1.4: Administrative autonomy and Indicator 2.2: Institutional integrity.
Aspiring goal
Assess your parliament against this dimension
Assessment criteria
No 1: Legal framework
The parliamentary administration is established through a clear legal framework, which codifies its mandates, powers, governance and responsibilities.
No 2: Governance
A parliamentary body oversees the running of the parliamentary administration. The day-to-day management of the parliamentary administration is ensured by the Secretary General.
No 3: Responsibilities
The parliamentary administration supports the day-to-day organizational, administrative and technical functions of parliament. It provides high-quality support and services in line with the principles of impartiality, equity, neutrality and non-partisanship.
No 4: Reporting
The parliamentary administration reports regularly to parliament on its work and performance, either in a stand-alone report or as part of regular parliamentary performance reporting.
No 5: Performance
The parliamentary administration constantly and proactively seeks to improve its support and services, taking into account feedback from MPs and the public. The performance of the parliamentary administration should be audited regularly, by either internal or external auditors.
How to complete this assessment
This dimension is assessed against several criteria, each of which should be evaluated separately. For each criterion, select one of the six descriptive grades (Non-existent, Rudimentary, Basic, Good, Very good and Excellent) that corresponds best to your parliament, and provide details of the evidence on which the assessment is based.
The evidence for assessment of this dimension could include the following:
- Provisions of the legal framework, parliament’s rules of procedure and/or other legal documents establishing an independent parliamentary administration and codifying its mandates, powers, governance and responsibilities
- Evidence of an established body mandated to approve and oversee the work of the parliamentary administration, and details of the members of such a body
- Reports on the work and performance of the parliamentary administration
Where relevant, provide additional comments or examples that support the assessment.
Sources and further reading
- Charles Lusthaus and others, Organisational Assessment: A Framework for Improving Performance (2002)
- Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Comparative research paper on parliamentary administration (2020)
- IPU, Putting parliamentary self-development into practice: A Guide to the Common Principles for Support to Parliaments (2020)
- United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Organizational Capacity Assessment (2016)
Get help with this assessment
The assessment of indicators involves diagnosing and considering strengths and weaknesses, i.e. the things parliament is doing well, and the things it could do better or more effectively, taking into account established good practices that are described in the indicators.
Read the assessment guidance to find out what to consider when conducting an assessment against the Indicators. Find out how to prepare, how to set the objectives of the assessment, how to organize the process, and more. Contact the project partners for expert advice.
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