Foreword

For over twenty-five years the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association has been at the forefront of supporting Parliaments to train newly elected Members as part of its Post-Election Seminar Programme. Over that period, thousands of Parliamentarians have gained much needed professional development training, arguably when they need it most. However, providing induction training is the tip of the logistical iceberg for Parliamentary Administrations in the post-Election period. This Handbook has been developed to broaden and augment that post-Election support, by supporting the institutions of Parliaments to effectively transition from one Parliament to another. In particular, this Handbook looks at how Parliaments should plan for Elections, how they should coordinate their activities, how they should provide the right information at the right time to new Members, and how to evaluate if the transition period was successful or not.

I am delighted to present the latest resource developed by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association for the benefit of its member Branches, but also the wider community of Parliaments outside of the Commonwealth. This Handbook seeks to continue the CPA’s approach to develop valuable and timely toolkits, handbooks and resources for Parliaments to utilise. We believe this publication will offer a useful guide on sharing best practices from across the globe for senior parliamentary staff to utilise as part of the pre- and post-Election planning and implementation, in both large and small jurisdictions.

Stephen Twigg, Secretary General, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

Elections* are a common feature of democratic Parliaments. Their frequency and impact will vary, depending on constitutional arrangements and political circumstances, but for parliamentary administrations, both large and small, across the Commonwealth they represent a regular challenge. Parliaments, and in particular parliamentary administrative teams, must be ready to welcome the Members of Parliament returned at each Election and to support them in carrying out their parliamentary functions. This means providing induction and training, but also a range of advisory and support services in a timely and accessible manner. At the same time, Parliaments must give appropriate care to retiring and defeated Members, and respond to the political change, and new demands, which may follow the Election. In some jurisdictions, the Parliaments may also have a role in managing the electoral process.

Getting ready for the next Election, and for the new Parliament that will follow, is important and demanding. It requires advance planning and flexibility; and has to be done alongside meeting the operational requirements of the current Parliament. It can be particularly challenging for smaller administrations with limited resources.

But as well as providing a challenge, Elections provide an opportunity. They provide an opportunity for the Parliamentary Administration to impress new Members with the quality of their service and the commitment and professionalism of their staff. They may also provide a chance to showcase to the wider country how the Parliament performs. And, as well as leading to new demands on Parliaments, the Election may also provide an opportunity for the Administration to make changes proactively. For example, a shift to digital services, or a change in working culture.

The purpose of this Handbook is to assist Parliaments by suggesting approaches and sharing examples of best practice from across the Commonwealth. It is primarily intended for use by the Parliamentary officials who are tasked with planning for their next Election, but it may also be of interest to Members of Parliament, especially those charged with overseeing their House Services or Administrations, who wish to ensure that Election planning in their Parliament reflects good practice across the Commonwealth.