Challenges to Parliamentary Governance

McGill University in Montreal, Canada, has run an exciting program for new MPs and staff from around the globe. Sven T. Siefken spoke on current political challenges to the German Bundestag, discussing the tension between MPs’ policy specialization versus societal outreach? The presentation gave an overview about how the Bundestag, one of the strongest parliaments in the world, fulfills its functions of election, legislation, oversight and communication, in order to secure democratic representation. Following a brief introduction into the electoral and political system of Germany, it looked at both formal and informal practices of coalition management and governing in a pluralizing party system. More about the program here