Dimension: 1.1.2 Procedural autonomy

This dimension concerns the provisions giving parliament autonomy over its procedures. Having procedural autonomy allows parliament to fulfil its core functions. These procedures can cover matters including:

  • the conduct and behaviour of MPs, including their right to resign
  • MPs’ rights, mandates and immunities
  • the proposal, debating, amendment and passing of legislation
  • parliament’s autonomy in agenda-setting, plenary and committee affairs
  • the election and actions of the Speaker Speaker The highest authority and principal presiding officer of the parliament, or of the house or chamber in bicameral parliaments. The Speaker is usually an MP elected at the beginning of each convocation by fellow MPs to preside over the parliamentary chamber or, in a unicameral system, to preside over the parliament. (s)
  • the procedures available to those in the majority and minority
  • the monitoring of the effective passage, implementation and consequences of legislation
  • the tools available to parliament to hold the executive to account
  • the rights of the opposition and its access to parliamentary resources, including infrastructure, staff, funding for political groups and research services.

Parliament Parliament A national body of elected (or sometimes appointed) representatives that makes laws, debates issues and holds the government to account. needs to have a robust framework for developing and amending these procedures.

Show more Show less

Aspiring goal

Based on a global comparative analysis, an aspiring goal for parliaments in the area of “procedural autonomy” is as follows:

  • Parliament has full authority to determine its rules of procedure, which are not subject to approval by the executive.
  • Parliament has a robust framework for creating, reviewing, modifying and endorsing its own procedures.
  • Parliament’s rules of procedure are implemented consistently and in a non-partisan manner. 

Assess your parliament against this dimension

Assessment criteria

No 1: Legal framework

The legal framework provides parliament with the authority to exercise complete control over determining its own procedures, including the power to establish and amend procedures enabling it to carry out its core functions.

No 2: Rules of procedure

Rules of procedure support the authority granted to parliament under the legal framework to determine its own procedures. Parliament has a robust framework for creating, reviewing, modifying and endorsing its own procedures. Parliament’s rules of procedure do not require approval by the executive.

No 3: Practice

In practice, parliament has autonomy over determining and implementing its procedures. Rules of procedure are developed and modified in accordance with the established framework. 

No 4: Non-partisan implementation

Parliamentary procedures are implemented in a non-partisan manner. The Speaker upholds compliance with those procedures. MPs from different parliamentary parties, factions and other affiliations are treated equally and impartially.

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 from the legal framework establishing parliament’s authority and autonomy in determining its own procedures 
  • Practices by which rules of procedure are debated and adopted by parliament alone 
  • Information on the involvement of MPs in all aspects of parliament’s proceedings
  • Rulings by the Speaker Speaker The highest authority and principal presiding officer of the parliament, or of the house or chamber in bicameral parliaments. The Speaker is usually an MP elected at the beginning of each convocation by fellow MPs to preside over the parliamentary chamber or, in a unicameral system, to preside over the parliament. (s)

Where relevant, provide additional comments or examples that support the assessment.

Download this indicator

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.

Download assessment guidanceGet expert advice

URL copied to clipboard