US and Algerian Legislative Staff Combine to Strengthen Legislative Process

16-19 September 2006

Approximately 60 participants from both houses of the Algerian Parliament took part in a four-day bill drafting and legal services workshop, which included a mix of MPs, legislative assistants and other staff from the upper and lower houses, as well as staff from 11 ministries.  This was the first time that MPs, legislative staff and their counterparts from the ministries were together in one room, communicating with each other and receiving the same training.  The U.S. faculty utilized practical methods and techniques to teach how to draft better bills, report more concise and accurate reports, create drafting manuals, and carry out research.

From a preliminary overview of the evaluation forms, the majority of participants highly valued the workshop because it granted them the rare opportunity to meet their U.S. counterparts and exchange knowledge and expertise.  Participants mentioned that the U.S. experience shed light on the important role of the legislative assistant and highlighted the urgent need to develop and improve staff skills in the Algerian parliament. Others emphasized the practical U.S. approach to bill drafting, especially how to achieve clarity and accuracy in a time-scarce environment.

Two technical assistance consultancies (or TAs) took place in conjunction to the bill drafting workshop. The TAs focused on library development, bill drafting and the implementation of a number of ideas presented during the workshop.  In an attempt to address obstacles that staff face, the two experts presented their work in a joint session for both chambers on library work and committee processes.  A second joint session focused on new ways to facilitate the exchange of information between the ministries and the parliament. 

Click here to see pictures of the workshop.

 Africa & Middle East Programs