Parliament and the People

In 1995 the Commonwealth parliamentary Association held an international conference on the theme "Parliament and People: Making Democratic Institutions More Representative, Responsible, and Relevant". This book is broadly based on some of the issues and questions raised by this conference. The question of how the public perceives parliamentary institutions, and the extent to which public opinion reflects the reality of political life is addressed, and has particular relevance in the light of investigations into standards and conduct in some governments, such as John Major's appointment of the Committee on Standards of Conduct in Public Life. There is no doubt that in many countries the public hold their representative institutions and those they elect in very low esteem. Improvement of effectiveness of parliamentary institutions and the political system in general is tackled, bearing in mind that there is usually a gap between what people want, and what their governments are able to deliver.
By first attempting to identify the criteria for a model democracy, taking into account variations among national traditions, cultures, systems of government, and so on, an evaluation of what is required if the political process is to improve is offered.