Post-legislative scrutiny

Post-legislative scrutiny

Around the world, WFD is helping to make countries’ political systems more accountable. In an accountable political system, citizens can hold people with power responsible for their decisions, usually via parliament and civil society.
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Around the world, WFD is helping to make countries’ political systems more accountable. In an accountable political system, citizens can hold people with power responsible for their decisions, usually via parliament and civil society. This means that there are consequences when things go wrong, and lessons are learned when things could be improved. In turn, this helps ensure better delivery of public services.

Parliaments make and change laws. They also have a role in checking the implementation of laws and evaluating whether they achieve their intended outcomes. Implementation is complex and does not happen automatically. What is more, parliaments and elected representatives often have little information on what happens after a law is adopted. So, parliaments need mechanisms to effectively monitor the implementation of legislation.

Post-legislative scrutiny (PLS) is the practice of monitoring the implementation and evaluating the impact of laws. The aim is to ensure that laws benefit citizens in the way originally intended by lawmakers. PLS is often carried out by parliamentary committees and is a prominent feature of UK parliamentary democracy. As PLS is recognized as an integral part of the legislative cycle, it is emerging as a new dimension within the legislative and oversight role of parliament.

WFD has helped parliaments around the world pioneer post-legislative scrutiny.

In Ukraine, WFD supported the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (VRU), the Parliament of Ukraine, to strengthen parliamentary oversight, in response to the European Parliament proposed Roadmap of Reforms of the Verkhovna Rada in 2016. 

Find out about our work strengthening parliamentary oversight in Ukraine

 

In Nepal, WFD assisted the parliament to examine the implementation of laws used in the country’s response to COVID-19.

Find out more about our work to support PLS in Nepal

In the Western Balkans, WFD has worked with the parliamentary Committees on Human Rights and Gender Equality in initiating PLS in all parliaments of the Western Balkans.

Find out about our work supporting PLS in the Western Balkans

PLS features in the vast majority of our programmes, from introducing MPs to the practice to supporting the pilot of PLS inquiries. When it comes to PLS, WFD takes two approaches. The first is an institutional approach to PLS, whereby we focus on strengthening parliament’s capacity for PLS. The second is a thematic approach, focusing on gender-sensitive and climate-proof PLS.  

WFD has also developed research and guides to PLS. This includes an annual course on post-legislative scrutiny, organised in cooperation with the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (IALS) of the University of London. 

Browse our library to find PLS resources
Picture of the parliamentary innovation through post-legislative scrutiny manual
Resource

Parliamentary innovation through post-legislative scrutiny

This manual provides practical guidance preparing, organising and following up on post-legislative scrutiny activities. The manual proposes new or additional parliamentary practices to improve the efficiency of PLS and/or its outreach to the public. This document is a revised and updated version of WFD’s PLS manual from 2017.
cover of post-legislative scrutiny of climate and environment legislation resource
Resource

Post-legislative scrutiny of climate and environment legislation: Guide for parliamentary practice

This guide for parliamentary practice outlines an approach to assessing the implementation and the impact of climate and environmental legislation at national level.

 
cover of gender-sensitive post-legislative scrutiny resource
Resource

Policy paper: Gender-sensitive post-legislative scrutiny

This policy paper examines the meeting point between post-legislative scrutiny and gender analysis.
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Resource

Resource: Post-Legislative Scrutiny: From a Model for Parliamentarians to a CSO Strategic and Operational Tool

This guide for civil society explains what PLS is, why it is important, and how to go about it. The report focuses on LGBTIQ+ organisations and their priorities and the tools it contains are adaptable for civil society organisations working in different contexts, on different issues, and with different capacities.
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Our expertise

Franklin De Vrieze - Head of Practice, Accountability

Franklin is a democracy and governance expert with extensive experience in post conflict, fragile and transition countries. He is WFD's in-house expert on Post-Legislative Scrutiny, independent oversight institutions, financial accountability, and anti-corruption. He develops resources and research to support the design and implmentation of WFD programmes.

Find out more about Franklin
11 Steps for organising post-legislative scrutiny (PLS) in parliament

The second edition of the PLS Manual for parliaments provides practical guidance for preparing, organising and following up on PLS activities. The Manual proposes new or additional parliamentary practices to improve the efficiency of PLS and/or its outreach to the public. The Manual outlines 11 methodological steps for organising PLS in parliament, which we have put in a handy infographic. 

View the 11 steps for organising PLS

Latest news and commentary

Albanian Parliament approves PLS methodology
News
Albanian Parliament approves PLS methodology following successful piloting
WFD in Albania and the Albanian Parliament successfully piloted the post-legislative scrutiny (PLS) process with focus on the Law on Tourism, enhancing parliamentary oversight.
Placeholder PLS report in Kenya
Report
Post legislative scrutiny (PLS) inquiry on the political parties’ act of 2011 in Kenya
This PLS inquiry of the Political Parties Act, 2011 sought to unravel the effectiveness of the Act, particularly in responding to the special needs of persons with disabilities (PWDs) after twelve years of the law’s implementation. The report provides insightful findings, which stakeholders can use to improve the promotion of the socioeconomic, cultural, and political rights of PWDs in Kenya.
A WFD team member addressing provincial assembly members in Nepal.
Story
Scottish-Nepali learning exchange on post-legislative-scrutiny
Westminster Foundation for Democracy organised a peer-to-peer learning visit between the member of Scottish Parliament and Nepal’s federal parliament and provincial assemblies.
Front cover of the report. Details provided in the page text.
Guide
Post-legislative scrutiny of environmental and climate legislation
Parliaments have a vital role to play in realising the Paris Agreement by establishing mechanisms for monitoring and reporting on the progress of domestic climate-related legislation and policies, ensuring transparency and accountability in the implementation of global climate commitments. This policy paper considers how post-legislative scrutiny can deliver this mandate.
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