This dimension concerns arrangements for voting by MPs, including by voice or by ballot. The ability of MPs to cast votes for or against a policy or proposal for a law is essential to the exercise of their representative function. Voting powers should be exercised by MPs only, who should be able to vote freely without interference or improper influence.

This dimension concerns arrangements for parliamentary debate. The right to debate is universally considered one of the most critical rights of MPs in a democratic system. Debate Debate A discussion in which the arguments for or against a subject are presented according to specific rules.

This dimension concerns the requirements for a quorum, or the minimum number of MPs who must be present in order for parliament to validly conduct its business. The existence of a quorum is therefore a practical measure that allows parliament to effectively operate without all MPs being present. 

This dimension concerns the means by which parliament convenes sessions, including initial (constitutive) sessions following elections, and by which it sets its agenda during these sessions.

It also covers the rights of parliament and MPs to hold regular, special or extraordinary sessions, and to ensure that there is a specified maximum period between sessions. In addition, it concerns the responsibilities for developing and maintaining the agenda, and the powers under which MPs may vote to change the agenda, including determining legislation for debate.

This dimension concerns the existence of a publicly available parliamentary calendar that establishes the timetables for debate and in-session periods and sittings, in addition to recesses and holidays. The parliamentary calendar also includes information related to committees.

This dimension concerns the procedures under which parliament may conduct business in times of emergency or crisis. These procedures may alter the regular functioning of parliament and are only to be used in legally defined, exceptional circumstances. Emergency provisions may be contained in a country’s legal framework or in parliament’s rules of procedure, as well as in other state-of-emergency legislation.

This dimension outlines the specific powers and provisions defined in parliament’s rules of procedure, which codify all procedural aspects of parliamentary business. The rules of procedures should cover all of parliament’s activities, potentially including the following matters:

This dimension concerns the professional development opportunities available to MPs to help them perform their core functions. It covers both programmes and resources offered by parliament, and those delivered in conjunction with partner organizations. It does not include programmes developed by political parties or informal support from other MPs, although these aspects can play an important role in MPs’ professional development.

This dimension concerns the remuneration and resources available to MPs to enable them to perform their duties. This includes MPs’ salary and any parliamentary allowances, as well as access to the staff, facilities and other resources they need to support their work.

MPs should be adequately remunerated and resourced for the following reasons:

This dimension concerns limits on the additional offices or roles that an MP can occupy while holding parliamentary office. Known as “incompatibilities of office”, these limits are primarily aimed at preventing MPs from breaching the principle of the separation of powers that exists in many political systems, thereby guaranteeing the independence of parliament.