mandate and uphold its sanctity. More often than not the parliamentary administrative establishment, budg- et, MPs’welfare, legislative cycle and other parliamen- tary activities are determined by the executive. In recent years, however, the global issues in world
economy, environment, human rights, poverty and economic equity have forced Parliaments to be more assertive for effectiveness. One of the most important necessary components of parlia- mentary effectiveness is an independent adminis- tration.The advantages of an independent parlia- mentary administrative structure is that Parliament can organize its activities in response to its role. Parliament is responsible to the public through its legislative plan, House record-keeping (Hansard), committee sessions and reports, MPs’ legislative and research services, communication links, parliamentary rights, privileges and protocol; as well as other parlia- mentary duties.What Parliaments, particularly the
The Secretary-General talking to the Director-General of International Relations for the Pakistan National Assembly,Mr Feroz Khan.
young democracies, now desire is to have an adminis- trative establishment independent of the civil service, the latter structure often inherited from the colonial civil service structure. In several young democracies, the structure of parliamentary adminis- tration is being devel- oped by means of legis- lation to establish parlia- mentary commissions. The commissions are headed by the Speaker or Presiding Officer and the principal administra- tor is the Clerk or Secretary.The adminis- tration is divided into departments such as: par- liamentary records, MPs’
rights and privileges, administration and finance, and public outreach. It is encouraging to see that a good number of
Legislatures in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific are taking action to strengthen their structures in this way.They are doing it by themselves or with support from the “postgraduates” (United Kingdom,
Commonwealth Gallery
Left: from l-r:The Secretary-General, CPA Chairperson Hon. Dato’ Seri Mohd. Shafie Apdal,Treasurer Hon. Hashim Abdul Halim and Vice-Chairperson Hon. Keith Flax.
Right:The Secretary-General at the Australia Pacific Regional Conference in Tasmania.