House of Commons Commission Report


Annex 2: Benchmarks for Democratic Legislatures (2006)


In December 2006, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) published the Report of a Study Group on Benchmarks for Democratic Legislatures, which was supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Programme for Parliamentary Strengthening, the World Bank Institute and the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs.
Extracts from 2006 CPA Benchmarks for Democratic Legislatures

1.5.1 The Legislature shall provide proper remuneration and reimbursement for parliamentary expenses to legislators for their service, and all forms of compensation shall be allocated on a non-partisan basis.

1.7.1 The Legislature shall have adequate physical infrastructure to enable members and staff to fulfil their responsibilities.

5.1.1 The Legislature shall have an adequate non-partisan professional staff to support its operations including the operations of its committees.

5.1.2 The Legislature, rather than the executive branch, shall control the parliamentary service and determine the terms of employment.

5.1.3. The Legislature shall draw and maintain a clear distinction between partisan and non-partisan staff.

5.1.4 Members and staff of the Legislature shall have access to sufficient research, library, and ICT facilities.

5.2.1 The Legislature shall have adequate resources to recruit staff sufficient to fulfil its responsibilities. The rates of pay shall be broadly comparable to those in the public service.

5.3.1 Recruitment and Promotion of non-partisan staff shall be on the basis of merit and equal opportunity.

5.4.1 The head of the parliamentary service shall have a form of protected status to prevent undue political pressure.

5.4.2 Legislatures should either by legislation or resolution, establish corporate bodies responsible for providing services and funding entitlements for parliamentary purposes and providing for governance of the Parliamentary service.



 
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Prepared 25 June 2007