Dimension: 1.4.5 Political groups
This dimension concerns the provisions establishing that MPs are entitled to form political groups within parliament in order to coordinate their activities and achieve shared political goals. The members of a political group typically belong to the same party.
The rules on political groups, including on their formation, on the privileges granted such groups, and on the rights of MPs not belonging to any political group (i.e. independent MPs), vary from parliament to parliament.
Parliamentary rules often identify a minimum number of MPs required to form a political group. The threshold should not be set too high and should not run counter to MPs’ right to form such a group. In some parliaments, there may be restrictions on changes within, or transfers between, political groups.
Political groups often have the right to initiate actions such as proceedings, motions and interpellations, as stipulated in parliament’s rules of procedure.
Political groups are typically granted specific resources, proportional to that group’s representation in parliament. Resources may include access to additional working space, financial and administrative resources, and additional professional and administrative support for their work. The staff of a political group are not part of the parliamentary administration. Political groups are required to account for these additional resources
See also Dimension 2.1.4: Parliamentary income and use of parliamentary resources.
Aspiring goal
Assess your parliament against this dimension
Assessment criteria
No 1: Legal framework
The legal framework clearly establishes the right for MPs to form political groups, and stipulates the rules governing their formation, rights and responsibilities.
No 2: Equitable representation
Parliament’s rules of procedure guarantee the equitable allocation of speaking time to political groups in plenary sessions and debates, and ensure that such groups are represented in parliament’s management structures, including the presidium and permanent committees.
No 3: Resources
The legal framework grants political groups financial and administrative resources to support their functioning. Political groups account publicly for their use of these resources.
No 4: Practice
In practice, political groups exercise their powers in parliament systematically and rigorously, and all rights prescribed by law or in parliament’s rules of procedure, including those on equitable speaking time and access to resources, are duly implemented.
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 constitution, other aspects of the legal framework and/or parliament’s rules of procedure on the formation of political groups
- Provisions of the legal framework and/or parliament’s rules of procedure guaranteeing additional financial, administrative and human resources for political groups
- Provisions of parliament’s rules of procedure ensuring that political groups are represented in parliament’s management structures
- Provisions of parliament’s rules of procedure guaranteeing the equitable allocation of speaking time to political groups in plenary sessions and debates
- Reports by political groups, possibly including communication by the group with the executive (such as written questions or requests for information), as well as information on the number of hearings or summons of government representatives requested by a political group or its MPs
Where relevant, provide additional comments or examples that support the assessment.
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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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