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

• The legal framework clearly establishes the right for MPs to form political groups, and stipulates the rules governing their formation, rights and responsibilities.
• 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 parliamentary bodies, including the presidium and committees.
• Political groups are granted specific privileges, typically including access to additional working space, financial and administrative resources, and additional professional and administrative support for their work. Political groups must account for these additional resources.
   

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

• Parliament has the authority to establish committees, and to define their powers, functions, composition, governance and procedures.
• Parliamentary committees are mandated to review proposals for laws, to obtain information from the executive, to summon government officials, to report to parliament on their findings, and to make recommendations.
• Parliament’s rules set out clear procedures with regard to committee meetings, such as the time of a meeting, notice of a meeting, the preparation, approval and distribution of the agenda, quorum, chairing, record-keeping, voting and reporting.
• Committee meetings are open and accessible to the public, unless there is sufficient justification for a closed meeting to be held. Committee documents, such as agendas, evidence taken by the committee and conclusions of committee meetings, are publicly available.
• Parliamentary committees have sufficient administrative capacity, including qualified staff to support MPs in carrying out their law-making and oversight work.