BACKGROUND
Although representing the public interests of citizens and enacting legislation are the best understood roles of parliamentarians, it is increasingly evident that democratic governance requires effective oversight of government finances and operations as well. For GOPAC, an organization focused on improving integrity in governance, oversight is all the more central to the fight against corruption.
GOPAC members and many observers of parliamentary performance believe that oversight – and in particular financial oversight – is performed poorly in many if not most countries. This is not simply the case in newer democracies. For example, in a 2006 Hansard Society report, Parliament, Government and Public Money, the authors characterized the British system as one where “…the government decides the value of the cheque, to whom it should be paid and when, and Parliament simply signs it.” This, of course, does not imply that other aspects of financial oversight in the UK work as poorly, but does illustrate the need for attention to parliamentary oversight.
Effective oversight is not the inevitable results of establishing a parliament, holding competitive elections, and having a reasonable degree of transparency in government. Nor is it likely to be the inevitable result of ratifying the UN Convention Against Corruption (and related conventions), although such initiatives should have a positive influence on parliamentary oversight.
Fully effective parliamentary oversight likely requires a combination of things, including a combination of:
a) appropriate parliamentary powers, resources and procedures;
b) good executive accounting, reporting and transparency;
c) knowledgeable and skilled parliamentarians; and
d) good societal understanding of democratic governance, an independent media, and an active civil society.
Where GOPAC can be most helpful, at least initially, is building a better understanding of the value of, and means to achieve, such an enhanced parliamentary oversight as well as working with experts and parliamentarians to develop their own oversight knowledge and skills.
Although the Parliamentary Oversight Global Task Force has not yet been fully formed, former Senator Cesar Jauregui of Mexico has agreed to lead it and the World Bank Institute has agreed to serve as a supporting expert agency to the task force. An initial work plan will be developed during the summer, 2006
Links:
WBI
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/WBI/
0,,pagePK:208996~theSitePK:213799,00.html
Hansard Society (English Only)
http://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/ |
