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Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are one of the main factors found in the background of the economic, social and political transformations experienced around the world. In the age of information, ICTs also have a great impact on the parliamentary democracy. The parliaments as institutions just like other public institutions and make use of the opportunities offered by the ICTs in order to maintain the duties of legislation, representation and inspection more efficiently, establish contact with the public, ensure participation of the public to the legislative process, and strengthen their positive image in the eyes of the public. Thanks to the new tools provided by ICTs, parliaments have grasped an important opportunity to be able to meet the needs of the citizens, fulfill the unique characteristics of a democratic parliament and accomplish its functions in a more efficient manner.
This study aims to present a conceptual framework regarding e-parliament initiative and analyze the impacts of ICTs on the structure of parliament, its functions, relations with other actors and the legislative process. Moreover; with the case studies included, the study aims to assess concrete reflections of ICTs’ effect on the parliaments. In this regard, general objectives of this book can be summarized as follows:
• To assess potential contributions that ICTs can make to legislation, representation and oversight functions.
• To present the role that ICTs can play in order to empower the parliaments and parliament members, and to increase their credibility.
• To present the contributions that ICTs can make in improving the legislative process and citizens’ participation in policy making processes.
• To illustrate the best examples in the context of developed, developing and underdeveloped countries.
• To analyze, with regard to applications in different countries, barriers in front of e-parliament initiative and offer solutions.
Recommended topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
• E-parliament: Conceptual framework
• Democracy, parliaments and ICTs
• Management and strategic planning of ICTs for parliaments
• ICTs and main functions of parliaments
• Using areas of ICTs in parliaments
• Diffusion of the e-parliament and international organizations
• Obstacles to e-parliament applications in developed and developing countries
• Electronic systems for creating bills, recording legislative actions and managing documentation in parliaments
• Parliamentary websites for citizens and other agents
• Members of parliament (MP) and e-parliament
• Members of parliament’s website
• MPs and ICT-based social networks
• Chamber technologies
• E-democracy, e-participation and e-parliament
• Role of the ICTs in strengthening communication between parliament and citizens
• Applications of enhancing the dialogue between parliament and (for example; e-mail, e-consultation, online discussion forums, chat with parliamentarians, online voting and viewing bills)
• Role of the ICTs in supporting relationships between parliament and other agents (political parties, business world, press, NGOs)
• ICTs and enhancing legislative process
• Parliamentary libraries and research services
• Best examples of e-parliament applications around the world
• Regional and global initiatives of collaboration among parliamentaries
Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit on or before April 15, 2010, a 2 page manuscript proposal clearly explaining the mission and concerns of the proposed chapter, including theoretical background of the work, methodology (if appropriate) and indication of outcomes. Authors of accepted proposals will be notified by April 30, 2010 about the status of their proposals and sent chapter organizational guidelines. Full chapters should be submitted by September 1, 2010. All submitted chapters will be reviewed on a double-blind review basis.
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