This document outlines possible benchmarks for evaluating the performance of democratic parliaments. It discusses organization of committees, their powers and procedures, accessibility and transparency, and relationships with supreme audit institutions. Key benchmarks include having transparent committee leadership selection, non-partisan professional staff, public access to information and hearings, and timely follow-up on audit recommendations. The document aims to help parliaments improve oversight and accountability.

1. Meeting of Pacific
Public Accounts Committees
WORLD BANK GROUP
GLOBAL GOVERNANCE PRACTICE
I M P R O V I N G P E R F O R M A N C E A N D S E T T I N G
S T A N D A R D S

2. BACKGROUND
March
2010
Interna'onal
Conference
on
Benchmarking
and
Self-­‐
Assessment
for
Democra'c
Parliaments
GLOBAL
• Inter-­‐Parliamentary
Union
(IPU)
• UNDP
• Commonwealth
Parliamentary
Associa>on
• Na>onal
Democra>c
Ins>tute
for
Interna>onal
Affairs
(NDI)
• Canadian
Parliamentary
Centre
COMMONWEALTH
• Commonwealth
(La>mer
House)
La>mer
House
Guidelines
on
Parliamentary
Sovereignty
and
Judicial
Independence

3. POSSIBLE
BENCHMARKS
• Organiza>on
• Powers,
func>ons
and
procedures
• Accessibility
and
transparency
• Rela>onships
with
Supreme
Audit
Ins>tu>on
(SAI)

4. ORGANIZATION
• There
should
be
a
transparent
method
for
selec>ng
or
elec>ng
the
chairs
of
commiQees
• CommiQees
shall
have
the
right
to
consult
and/or
employ
experts
• The
legislature
should
have
an
adequate
non-­‐par>san
professional
staff
to
support
its
opera>ons
including
the
opera>ons
of
its
commiQees
• The
legislature
draws
and
maintains
a
clear
dis>nc>on
between
par>san
and
non-­‐par>san
staff
• Members
and
staff
of
commiQees
have
access
to
sufficient
research,
library,
and
ICT
facili>es

5. POWERS,
FUNCTIONS
AND
PROCEDURES
• Adequate
advance
no>ce
of
mee>ngs
and
the
agenda
for
the
mee>ng
should
be
provided
• CommiQees
have
the
power
to
summon
persons,
papers
and
records,
and
this
power
shall
extend
to
witnesses
and
evidence
from
the
Execu>ve
branch,
including
officials
and
ministers
• Only
MPs
appointed
to
the
commiQee
should
have
the
right
to
vote
in
the
commiQee
• CommiQees
provide
meaningful
opportuni>es
for
opposi>on
par>es
to
engage
in
effec>ve
oversight
of
government
expenditures
• CommiQees
have
access
to
Execu>ve
branch
records
of
accounts
&
related
documenta>on
sufficient
to
be
able
to
meaningfully
review
the
accuracy
of
Execu>ve
repor>ng
on
revenues
and
expenditures

6. POWERS,
FUNCTIONS
AND
PROCEDURES
• CommiQee
hearings
should
be
held
in
public
• The
record
of
votes
of
a
commiQee
should
be
a
public
document
• The
legislature
protects
informants
and
witnesses
presen>ng
relevant
informa>on
to
commiQee
inquiries
about
corrup>on
or
other
unlawful
ac>vity.
• Witnesses
should
have
the
protec>on
of
parliamentary
privilege
to
ensure
they
are
able
to
give
informa>on
to
the
commiQee
without
fear
of
legal
ac>on.

7. ACCESSIBILITY
AND
TRANSPARENCY
• Opportuni>es
should
be
given
for
public
input
into
commiQee
inquiries
• Informa>on
is
provided
to
the
public
in
a
>mely
manner
regarding
maQers
under
considera>on
by
the
legislature
• CommiQees
promote
the
public’s
understanding
of
their
work
• CommiQee
members
should
be
required
to
disclose
relevant
business
interests
if
there
is
poten>al
for
a
perceived
conflict
of
interest
• The
legislature
should
have
a
non-­‐par>san
media
rela>ons
facility
• CommiQees
have
a
performance
measurement
system
to
assess
their
effec>veness
and
performance

8. RELATIONSHIPS
WITH
THE
SAI
• SAI
reports
should
be
tabled
in
the
legislature
in
a
direct
and
>mely
manner
• The
PAC
ensures
that
the
SAI
shall
be
provided
with
adequate
resources
and
legal
authority
to
conduct
audits
in
a
>mely
manner
• The
commiQee
has
a
formal
procedure
for
following
up
on
its
recommenda>ons