Epilogue: The Challenges and Important Domains of Institutional Development

Perhaps the most important lessons to be drawn from the attempts of institutional development in contemporary parliaments (particularly the new parliaments in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe) are the following:

• Among the most important basis of the effectiveness of the parliamentary institution is the opportunity it offers citizens to be acquainted with parliament’s work. This is why the principle of publishing the proceedings of parliamentary sessions should be applied, except when very sensitive and dangerous issues, such as national security, have been discussed.
• When the proceedings of parliaments cannot be published, it is necessary to publish summaries of them, or at least give access to the media on what those proceedings were so that they can convey them to the public.
• It should be noted that the effectiveness of the legislative role of parliament is linked to the ability of citizens to gain access to the legislative proposals it makes. The latter should be available to the public and the media and at the right time.
• It is necessary to use the modern voting techniques, particularly electronic voting, mainly because of its transparency and the facility in recording the results of voting, and also for the possibility of publishing or conveying it to public opinion.
• Modern parliamentary democracies are concerned with developing the means of interaction and communication and exchange of information between MPs, on the one hand, and the public and civil society, on the other. In addition to media coverage of parliamentary sessions, the public and civil society should be allowed to attend these sessions.
• Serious challenges face the development of Arab parliamentary action and should be taken into account, most important of which is the delay in the development process itself. It has taken the aspect of an urgent intervention to improve a declining situation rather than a conscious act aiming at development and progress. Public opinion’s evaluation of Arab parliamentary action is on the decline (internally and externally). Following is some evidence of this:

It may be that the most important aspects in developing Arab parliamentary action lie in the following domains:

- The development of an institutionalized system regarding the relations of an MP to the electoral district in particular and citizens in general through two major actions:
First, the provision of adequate human and technical possibilities for members of parliament to be able to direct their relations to voters/citizens and the creation of offices for them in their electoral districts
Second, the concern for financing and the financial capacities of the MP, which will enable him to cover his different activities in his district, and pay for research and studies. Whatever reservations some may have, it is not logical not to trust the MP on the management and use of a limited amount of financing especially when he is entrusted to formulate and defend the laws governing society as a whole.
- The executive power should cooperate with parliament in the provision of information (which is an important matter). The executive branch is the major source of information for MPs and the more they can cooperate with it easily, the better will their legislative and monitoring performance be. It should also help in responding to voters needs and requests.
- The necessity to organize parliamentary overseas visits so that MPs can visit world parliaments and the different international organizations. These training or study tours are useful for Arab MPs and require good technical preparation through the provision of information on the countries of the world and their parliaments. Exchange of experiences should also take place with world parliaments through MPs themselves and the technical staff assisting them.
- There should be a concern with holding regional and international conferences to discuss the technical and administrative issues in parliamentary institutions. Such conferences could be held in coordination with international parliamentary institutions such as The International Parliamentary Union and the Mediterranean Parliamentary Forum, The Arab Parliamentary Union, the African and Islamic Parliamentary Unions. The latter have become important international organizations and Arab countries are participating in most of their meetings. These organizations are gaining wider importance in view of the contemporary world changes. Arab parliamentary institutions should be prepared to work effectively in them and develop their institutional capacities by participating in their activities. This should not mean just issuing declarations on foreign policy and regional issues. Within this framework, the responsibility of the Arab World should be emphasized. Some thought should be given to the creation of a section or directorate in Arab parliaments which is specialized in enhancing Arab parliamentary life.
- The support of the role of women in parliaments. In this domain, two things are proposed: First, the widening of women’s representation base, and second, the coordination between the activities of women MPs, such as the creation of an association or center for women MPs whose principle aim is to activate women’s parliamentary role.
- The support for the creation of a Ministry for Parliamentary Affairs to be held by a minister or an MP, depending on the type of political system involved. The existence of this portfolio represents an important means in parliamentary development because it links the executive and parliamentary branches of government and makes them report to one another. It also produces continuity and reduces tension/alienation between members of the two branches. It reinforces the ethics of monitoring and balance and the institutionalization of political, legislative and monitoring roles of parliament in formulating public policies.

- The development of internal regulations of parliaments to provide a degree of balance between the various political and party currents and to enable the effective running of parliament and distribution of leading positions within it.
- The development of committees’ regulations and the modernization of their technical performance. The enhancement of their role in initiating legislation and the careful and patient study of legislation. The development of special committees’ reports through recourse to scientific experts and their participation in the preparation of these reports regarding pressing issues.
- In addition to this is the need to ensure full cooperation between the various committees and their concern for their legislative role and its implications.
- Concern for parliamentary information and creating chances for public opinion to pursue parliament’s work whether through physical attendance or via modern technological and communication means.
- The continuous and serious training of those working in parliament, particularly those working in research and development, with special emphasis on the art of legislative formulation. Members of parliament should be knowledgeable on the skill of legislative formulation which is considered the major obstacle against serious discussion of proposals of laws and the performance of their legislative roles in general.
- The creation and development of a directorate of training in the technical apparatus of parliament and its support with all the human, material and administrative facilities.
- Concern for information and technical support for parliamentary action (such as: electronic voting, a modern method of archiving documents, setting out and issuing guidelines, the creation of channel for direct broadcasting of parliament’s action ( in both houses where they exist).

- Access to centers of research, (“Houses of experience”) and the institutions of civil society.
- The creation of a nucleus for Arab parliamentary research. This will represent an initiation to the idea of Arab “Houses of experience” in parliamentary action. It is not known whether there are such specialized “Houses” based in the Arab world, or whether there is such a concern in academic forums (such as the Arab Association for Political Science) or in civil society organizations or Arab universities. (xx)
- Despite the existence of a number of Arab and regional reports on economic, literary and political matters (human rights, strategic issues), there is not one Arab report on parliamentary life. The idea of preparing “the Arab Parliamentary Report” will represent an important means to support the development of Arab parliamentary action and simplify parliamentary life for the public and bringing parliamentary studies and research to the public level.
- The expansion of the activities of parliamentary media information, through broadcasting the sessions and organizing student visits to parliament and model programs such as the youth parliament, the small parliament and vanguard parliaments. (xxi)