Dimension: 1.3.4 Convening sessions and setting the agenda
This dimension concerns the means by which parliament convenes sessions, including initial (constitutive) sessions following elections, and by which it sets its agenda during these sessions.
It also covers the rights of parliament and MPs to hold regular, special or extraordinary sessions, and to ensure that there is a specified maximum period between sessions. In addition, it concerns the responsibilities for developing and maintaining the agenda, and the powers under which MPs may vote to change the agenda, including determining legislation for debate.
This dimension pays particular attention to the rights of MPs to meet regularly in order to exercise their core functions, to the opportunities for MPs to contribute to agenda-setting, and to the means by which parliament may be called into a special or extraordinary session.
Aspiring goal
Assess your parliament against this dimension
Assessment criteria
No 1: Convening parliament after elections
The legal framework specifies a maximum number of days within which parliament must meet for its first session following an election, and establishes that parliament meets at regular intervals in order to exercise its core functions.
No 2: Sessions
Sessions are determined by the parliamentary leadership or special committees as set out in the rules of procedure. Extraordinary sessions, and sittings convened using urgent procedures, are convened in accordance with the rules, and only when required for public-interest reasons.
No 3: Agenda-setting
All MPs have the right to participate in agenda-setting in accordance with parliament’s rules of procedure, including to propose agenda items. Agenda-setting provisions are applied consistently in practice.
No 4: Publication and advance notice
The agendas for sessions are published well in advance, giving MPs sufficient time to prepare.
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 best reflects the situation in your parliament, and provide details of the evidence on which this assessment is based.
The evidence for assessment of this dimension could include the following:
- Provisions of the legal framework specifying times for the holding of sessions following elections and at other times
- Rules of procedure Rules of procedure The rules approved by parliament to regulate its proceedings and govern the way it conducts its business. clarifying the ability of the parliamentary leadership or special committees to establish parliament’s own agenda, and establishing the right of MPs to amend that agenda, including to determine legislation for debate
Where relevant, provide additional comments or examples that support the assessment.
Download this indicatorGet 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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