• Indicator documentation

Glossary of terms

  • Publisher:
    • Indicators for Democratic Parliaments

This glossary provides definitions of the key terms used throughout the Indicators for Democratic Parliaments.

  • Format:
    • PDF
  • Publication Year:
    • 2023
  • Available in:
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Advancing the democratic resilience of global legislatures

The Indicators for Democratic Parliaments are a tool for institutional development that offers a new approach to measuring parliamentary capacity and performance.

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About

The 25 indicators are grouped according to the the UN Sustainable Development Goal targets 16.6 and 16.7. Parliaments can use indicators to assess how effective, accountable, transparent, responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative they are.

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The Indicators for Democratic Parliaments are a comprehensive self-assessment tool designed to help parliaments evaluate their capacity and practice...
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The Indicators for Democratic Parliaments are a multi-partner initiative coordinated by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), in partnership with...
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The Indicators are designed to support an evidence-based “health check” of parliaments. They can help them to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas for improvement.

Case studies

Case studies showcase how parliaments have used the Indicators to assess their strengths and weaknesses. Discover how they have used the Indicators and their experience of the assessment process.

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The Indicators are intended to support parliament’s own learning and development. The assessment exercise is an opportunity for parliament to step back, to examine its own practice, to see where it stands today and to discuss where it wants to grow.
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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. 

Assessment process

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The principle of self-assessment lies at the heart of the Indicators. The project partners are available to support parliaments, CSOs and others, to provide expert advice and to facilitate the assessment exercise.

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No 3: Monitoring and reporting

Parliament monitors and reports on gender and age balance in the composition and leadership of parliamentary bodies. 

No 2: Gender and age balance in leadership positions

MPs of different genders and ages are equitably represented in parliamentary leadership positions, including among committee chairs and vice-chairs. 

No 1: Measures to promote equitable representation

Parliament takes measures to promote the equitable representation of women and young MPs in all parliamentary bodies. 

No 4: Practice

In practice, the composition of committees and committee leadership roles reflects that of parliament as a whole.

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