WAVES OF CHANGE
THE CHANGING NATURE OF PARLIAMENT
The history of parliamentary representation is one of responding to diverse requirements for change. Parliament today faces demands for greater change than ever before as technology pushes more responsive, open, accountable and participatory government. The Secretary to Parliament applies the latest imperatives for change to develop a new planned approach to parliamentary administration reform.
Mr Michael Coetzee in Cape Town. Mr Coetzee has been Secretary to Parliament since November 2012, having been Deputy Secretary since 2002. He was Secretary of the Gauteng Legislature for four years. He also worked in human resources in Parliament and at the University of the Western Cape, and was a union organizer and head of the Western Cape Workers’ College at the University of the Western Cape.
The idea of the representation of the people in decision-making has a long history throughout the existence of humankind. History informs us about the existence of several forms of public representation in various societies.
The earliest times recall the existence of village elders acting as councils. Ancient Greece used the ekklesia, the Roman empire used legislative assemblies and in Africa referring decisions to councils of elders dates back to antiquity. The development of the modern parliamentary system is a more recent phenomenon, which can be traced back to the 13th century. In 21st century democracies, Parliaments are elected by the citizens to represent them in government and to ensure government by the people.
58 | The Parliamentarian | 2013: Issue One - South Africa
Moving with the times Throughout this time, Parliaments have had to endure large waves of change. In some cases change was expected; in others it was unexpected and in many instances the change was erratic. Changes occurred on several levels including the conceptual or political level, in terms of assigned authority, at the functional and procedural levels, at process and system levels, at the content and skill level, and the physical or facility level. Looking back at the rich history of parliamentary representation, one can but wonder at the many different dimensions of change that have confronted Parliaments and how they have responded to the requirements of change over time.
With the knowledge that Parliaments have successfully
responded to change over the course of history, our attention is now focused on shifts in society towards a demand for more responsive, open and accountable government. Society now demands a new way of doing things – a new and deeper level of representative democracy, as well as more direct involvement and parliamentary representation. Responding to these demands necessitates that we understand how Parliament’s nature is changing in society, how the administration of Parliament itself is changing and ways in which Parliament can successfully respond to these changes. The changing nature of Parliament in society is driven by a combination of trends, which together constitute underlying rapid shifts in all areas of society. The most
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