Democracy and Development
Parliament and Democracy in the 21st Century
Preliminary Report by the Inter-Parliamentary Union
Convened by the Inter-Parliamentary Union at United Nations headquarters, New York, 7 to 9 September 2005
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Contents
FOREWORD ..................................................................................................................4 1. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................5
THE PARLIAMENTARY CONTRIBUTION TO DEMOCRACY ....................................................................6 Citizen rights ........................................................................................................................7 Institutions of representative and accountable government ....................................................7 Active civil society.................................................................................................................8 Political parties .....................................................................................................................8 The communication media....................................................................................................8 A TEMPLATE FOR A DEMOCRATIC PARLIAMENT ................................................................................9
2. A REPRESENTATIVE PARLIAMENT ...........................................................................13
ELECTORAL RULES AND PROCEDURES TO ENSURE A PARLIAMENT THAT IS POLITICALLY REPRESENTATIVE .13 ELECTION RULES AND PROCEDURES TO ENSURE A PARLIAMENT THAT REFLECTS THE SOCIAL DIVERSITY OF THE POPULATION .....................................................................................................................16 Women in parliaments........................................................................................................17 The representation of minority and marginal communities
Preliminary Report by the Inter-Parliamentary Union
Convened by the Inter-Parliamentary Union at United Nations headquarters, New York, 7 to 9 September 2005
-2-
Contents
FOREWORD ..................................................................................................................4 1. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................5
THE PARLIAMENTARY CONTRIBUTION TO DEMOCRACY ....................................................................6 Citizen rights ........................................................................................................................7 Institutions of representative and accountable government ....................................................7 Active civil society.................................................................................................................8 Political parties .....................................................................................................................8 The communication media....................................................................................................8 A TEMPLATE FOR A DEMOCRATIC PARLIAMENT ................................................................................9
2. A REPRESENTATIVE PARLIAMENT ...........................................................................13
ELECTORAL RULES AND PROCEDURES TO ENSURE A PARLIAMENT THAT IS POLITICALLY REPRESENTATIVE .13 ELECTION RULES AND PROCEDURES TO ENSURE A PARLIAMENT THAT REFLECTS THE SOCIAL DIVERSITY OF THE POPULATION .....................................................................................................................16 Women in parliaments........................................................................................................17 The representation of minority and marginal communities