Parliaments in Central and Eastern Europe: Changing Legislative Institutions

Abstract

Parliaments emerged as one of the key political institutions in the postcommunist transition. Endowed with the significant power they acquired under the old communist constitutions, they were assigned the task of drafting & ratifying the new democratic constitutions in the transition period. Like most other institutions in Central & Eastern Europe, parliaments have undergone important changes in terms of how they function & in relation to their external environment. This article provides an introductory overview of the changing nature of parliaments in the region, focusing on two important areas of legislative studies. The first part of the article looks at the role of parliaments in representation. The second part offers several generalisations about the relationship between parliaments & their respective executive branches. By reviewing these two aspects of legislative process, some insights are also provided into the changing internal workings & procedures of CEE parliaments.