In the Public Eye

Fülszöveg

In The Publ
Parliamentary 1 in Europe and /
by the International Human Rights Law Group
In an age in which a growing number of countries are undergoing "democratization," it is important to look more carefully at what constitutes good government. A democracy works best when it operates in an open environment — one that is transparent to the media, to citizens' groups and to the general public. Since the parliament is where the citizens' directly elected representatives participate in law-making and other public fixnctions, parliamentary transparency is especially important for ensuring a democracy that is both accountable and legitimate.
In the Public Eye is a first-of-its-kind survey which examines the transparency — or openness — of parliaments in 20 European and North American countries: from Austria to Albania, from Canada to the Czech Republic. This country-by-country study reviews the political and constitutional history leading to the establishment of each parliament,... Tovább

Fülszöveg

In The Publ
Parliamentary 1 in Europe and /
by the International Human Rights Law Group
In an age in which a growing number of countries are undergoing "democratization," it is important to look more carefully at what constitutes good government. A democracy works best when it operates in an open environment — one that is transparent to the media, to citizens' groups and to the general public. Since the parliament is where the citizens' directly elected representatives participate in law-making and other public fixnctions, parliamentary transparency is especially important for ensuring a democracy that is both accountable and legitimate.
In the Public Eye is a first-of-its-kind survey which examines the transparency — or openness — of parliaments in 20 European and North American countries: from Austria to Albania, from Canada to the Czech Republic. This country-by-country study reviews the political and constitutional history leading to the establishment of each parliament, as well as their current structures and legislative roles. It provides an overview of parliamentary practices regarding the openness of plenary sessions, publication of parliamentary records, access to draft laws, recording of votes and transparency of coinmittees. Also included are quick-reference tables for easy comparison among the countries.
This book represents the culmination of more than four years of field work by the International Human R ights Law Group, first with human rights groups and civic organizations in Romania, and more recently in collaboration with dozens of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) throughout Europe, through the Law Group's field office in Bucharest.
In the Public Eye is a valuable tool for locally-based NGOs seeking to involve themselves in the legal reform efforts of their respective countries. It is also recommended to govemment officials, international donor agencies, intergovernmental organizations, scholars, and all others interested in promoting democracy and civil society in Europe and elsewhere.
Vissza