Reflections on the future of parliament and democracy.

• Author: Seguin, Philippe

This article argues that problems with Parliament are related to larger concerns about the health of democracy and suggests what has to be done to revive both Parliament and democracy.

Parliament is often confused with democracy. A democracy supposes the existence of a forum where we debate options, where the actions of the executive can be monitored, where broad principles are established and the life of society is defined. The existence of Parliament does not guarantee democracy but without Parliament there would be no democracy. The link is direct and logical. Thus when we question the future of Parliament we are also questioning the future of democracy.

Three conditions guarantee an authentic democracy:

* a constitution to establish legitimate representation;

* freedom of the elected assembly to regulate its own internal operations;

* sufficient powers for the assembly to carry out its main responsibilities -- to legislate, to hold governments to account, and to foster free, unfettered debate.

Various approaches have been tried to create these conditions but we always have to ask whether these approaches are still valid today? Let me identify three key causes which, with variations according to regimes, are the cause of our present crisis in Parliament and in democracy.

One fundamental cause is the growing complexity of decision-making in a global economy. Globalization has increased the need for governments to take rapid action. Indeed the executive has become all-powerful leaving assemblies with a role as guardians of the electoral process and the selection of some individuals for certain positions. But the nature of debate in a Chamber is very often illusionary for it is dominated by the majority. Opposition is symbolic. Thus members of Parliament are reduced to looking after their riding first and in systems having proportional representation, looking after the health of the party. Parliament is a development center, a necessary stop before going to the Nirvana of the executive. We expect from our parliamentarians qualities of patience, resignation and even complacency.

A second cause of the crisis is the frequent ambiguity of relationships between the executive and the legislative banches. In some countries Parliament wants to compete with the government instead of looking to limit government influence. The proper relationship, I think, is for Parliament to debate the direction the government intends to go and to see if objectives...