This text summarizes the research on, and experiences of, democratic legislatures around the world. It focuses on what legislatures are and what they do - as both consequence of and contributor to democratic self-government.
Chapter 1 Legislatures in Today’s Democracies; Chapter 2 The Members: Representatives and Legislators; Chapter 3 Political Parties: The Internal Organization of Parliament, I; Chapter 4 Committees: The Internal Organization of Parliament, II; Chapter 5 Legislative-Executive Relations; Chapter 6 The Electorate and the Public: Elections and Interest Groups; Chapter 7 Parliaments at the Beginning; Chapter 8 Legislatures in the Policy Process;
