Editing Legislature (section)

== Functions ==
Democratic legislatures have six major functions: representation, deliberation, legislation, authorizing expenditure, making governments, and oversight.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Hague |first=Rod |title=Political science : a comparative introduction |date=14 October 2017 |isbn=978-1-137-60123-0 |pages=128–130 |oclc=961119208}}</ref>

=== Representation ===
There exist five ways that representation can be achieved in a legislature:<ref name=":0" />

* Formalistically: how the rules of the legislature ensure representation of constituents;
* Symbolically: how the constituents perceive their representatives;
* Descriptively: how well the composition of the legislature matches the demographics of the wider society;
* Substantively: how well representatives actually respond to the needs of their constituents;
* Collectively: how well the representatives represent the interests of the society as a whole.

=== Deliberation ===
One of the major functions of a legislature is to discuss and debate issues of major importance to society.<ref name=":0" /> This activity can take place in two forms. In debating legislatures, such as the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]], the floor of the legislature frequently sees lively debate.<ref name=":0" /> In contrast, in committee-based legislatures like the [[United States Congress]], deliberation takes place in closed committees.<ref name=":0" />

=== Legislation ===
While legislatures have nominally the sole power to create laws, the substantive extent of this power depends on details of the political system. In [[Westminster system|Westminster-style]] legislatures the executive (composed of the cabinet) can essentially pass any laws it wants, as it usually has a majority of legislators behind it, kept in check by the party whip, while committee-based legislatures in continental Europe and those in [[presidential system]]s of the [[Americas]] have more independence in drafting and amending bills.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hague |first=Rod |title=Political science : a comparative introduction |date=14 October 2017 |isbn=978-1-137-60123-0 |pages=130–131 |oclc=961119208}}</ref>

=== Authorizing expenditure ===
The origins of the [[power of the purse]] which legislatures typically have in passing or denying [[government budget]]s goes back to the European assemblies of nobility which the [[monarch]]s would have to consult before raising taxes.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Hague |first=Rod |title=Political science : a comparative introduction |date=14 October 2017 |isbn=978-1-137-60123-0 |pages=131–132 |oclc=961119208}}</ref> For this power to be actually effective, the legislature should be able to amend the budget, have an effective committee system, enough time for consideration, as well as access to relevant background information.<ref name=":1" />

=== Oversight ===
There are several ways in which the legislature can hold the executive branch (the administration or government) accountable. This can be done through hearings, [[Question time|questioning]], [[Interpellation (politics)|interpellations]], [[Motion of no confidence|votes of confidence]], the formation of committees.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Parliamentary Function of Oversight {{!}} Agora |url=https://www.agora-parl.org/resources/aoe/parliamentary-function-oversight |access-date=2024-10-27 |website=www.agora-parl.org}}</ref> Parliaments are usually ensured with upholding the rule of law, verifying that public funds are used accountably and efficiently as well as make government processes transparent and actions so that they can be debated by the public and its representatives.<ref name=":2" />

Agora notes that parliamentary systems or political parties in which political leaders can influence or decide which members receive top jobs can lead to passivity amongst members of the party and less challenging of leadership.<ref name=":2" /> Agora notes that this phenomenon is acute if the election of a member is dependent on the support of political leadership.<ref name=":2" />

=== Function in authoritarian regimes ===
In contrast to [[Democracy|democratic]] systems, legislatures under [[authoritarianism]] are used to ensure the stability of the power structure by co-opting potential competing interests within the elites, which they achieve by:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hague |first=Rod |title=Political science : a comparative introduction |date=14 October 2017 |isbn=978-1-137-60123-0 |oclc=961119208}}</ref>

* Providing legitimacy;
* Incorporating opponents into the system;
* Providing some representation of outside interests;
* Offering a way to recruit new members to the ruling clique;
* Being a channel through which limited grievances and concessions can be passed.