Parliament and Democracy in the Twenty-First Century: A Guide to Good Practice

David Beetham

What is the parliamentary contribution to democracy? What makes a parliament or legislature itself democratic? How might it become more so? These are the questions which this guide seeks to answer. It provides a comprehensive account of the central role that parliament plays in a democracy, and explains what it means for a parliament to be truly representative, transparent, accessible, accountable, and effective in its many functions. The purpose of this guide is to use the democratic practices outlined in its pages to inspire similar or better practices throughout the global parliamentary community.