Study Group on Benchmarks for Democratic Legislatures

In December 2004, CPA and the World Bank Institute jointly hosted a meeting in Washington D.C. for the representatives of selected organisations involved in strengthening parliamentary democracy and supporting parliamentarians. Subsequently, the UNDP and WBI have joined the CPA to organize a Study Group.

Recommended Benchmarks for Democratic Legislatures

The Study Group consisted of Parliamentarians with experience of the use of benchmarks, standards and indicators. The main objectives of the workshop were to:

• Identify best practice in defining benchmarks across Commonwealth Parliaments;
• Produce recommendations for the establishment of an agreed set of benchmarks and indicators;
• Examine methods of increasing accountability through the use of benchmarks and indicators; and
• Develop the capacity of CPA to assist Branches with assessing levels of parliamentary democracy.