In democratic systems, parliaments have a number of tools and mechanisms to their disposal to oversee and hold the executive accountable. The Parliamentary Centre supports committees working on a wide range of issues, from budgetary accountability to oversight of the security sector, in establishing proper working relationships with extra-parliamentary institutions of accountability, testing out new approaches, and determining how best to engage key witnesses.
The Parliamentary Centre supports parliaments in developing their legislative drafting capacity, as well as monitoring the implementation of legislation, to ensure laws benefit citizens in the way originally intended. Better legislation also requires stronger parliamentary research services, which the Centre also assists in reinforcing.