Officials from around the world gathered at the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79), including at a side event hosted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). And later in October, global lawmakers will meet in Geneva for the 149th IPU Assembly, with a focus on AI, science, technology, and innovation.

This month, we are watching upcoming elections in Mozambique (Oct. 9), Lithuania (Oct. 13), Georgia (Oct. 26), Uruguay, Bulgaria and Uzbekistan (Oct. 27), and Botswana (Oct. 30). And we’re highlighting:

A convening of US and Caribbean Members of Parliament on legislatures’ roles in the digital economy
Legislative capacity and staff roles in fragmented parliaments
Relations between legislators and constituencies in Africa

Please share with your colleagues and feel free to reach out! We are always happy to connect with fellow enthusiasts of legislative institutions around the world.

Beatriz Rey, Ph.D.

Changes & Challenges

A bill to make judges stand for election passed the Mexican Congress of the Union despite protesters storming the Senate during debate.
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye dissolved parliament and set new elections for November 17.
Jordan’s first election under a new law designed to increase representation resulted in a tripling of the Islamic party and women winning 27 of 138 seats.
One year after Gabon’s military coup, the parliament has begun drafting a new constitution, but the military will have the final say.

On Our Radar

The UK Parliament may summon Elon Musk. Australia is threatening fines for platforms that fail to curb misinformation. And X has now complied with judicial orders and asked to be reinstated in Brazil.
The UK government introduced a bill to clarify the legal status of cryptocurrency.
The Parliament magazine released a new guide for Accredited Parliamentary Assistants.
The European Parliament adopted new rules of procedure.
Futurepolis explores how countries are updating their democracies for the 21st century.

Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Side Event at UNGA

At the IPU’s side event on "Parliaments and Multilateralism: Opportunities from the Pact for the Future" (video), participants called for an enhanced role for parliaments in the newly adopted UN Pact for the Future. IPU President Tulia Ackson emphasized the Pact's potential to accelerate implementation of UN sustainable development goals and strengthen the multilateral system.

The IPU expressed support for Action 55 of the Pact, which recognizes the importance of “engagement with national parliaments in United Nations intergovernmental bodies and processes.” The IPU has had Permanent Observer status with the UN since 2002.

149th IPU Assembly will focus on AI, Science, and Technology

The upcoming 149th IPU Assembly, set for October 13-17, 2024 in Geneva, will bring together hundreds of lawmakers to discuss "harnessing science, technology, and innovation for a more peaceful and sustainable future."

Lawmakers from the US and Caribbean Gathered in Miami to Discuss the Digital Economy

Legislators from across the Caribbean gathered in Miami for a forum on "The Role of Parliaments in Transforming Digital Economies in the Caribbean." Organized by the House Democracy Partnership, USAID, the Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM), and ParlAmericas, with support from IRI and NDI, the event brought together lawmakers and experts to explore strategies for enhancing digital transformation in the region.

US Rep. Barbara Lee [D, CA], Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, participated in the convening and was joined by Chair Mario Diaz-Balart [R, FL] to welcome the attendees. Topics included:

digital infrastructure,
government services transformation,
climate resilience,
artificial intelligence (AI), and
cybersecurity.

The event laid groundwork for potential future initiatives and ongoing collaboration in the Caribbean.

Dispatch from Portugal and India: Challenges and Opportunities of Fragmented Parliaments

Political fragmentation in parliaments worldwide is reshaping legislative processes. Portugal’s 2024 election resulted in major parties each securing 78 seats, leading to complex “negative coalitions.” In India, division has weakened parliamentary committees, while US research shows moderate conflict can foster landmark legislation. Legislative staff face increased workloads due to a higher volume of amendments and bills. Some institutions are implementing measures to improve civility and cross-partisan collaboration. These trends highlight how modern democracies are adapting to new political realities, balancing diverse representation with effective governance.

The Impact of Political Fragmentation on Legislative Institution Workflow: A Global Perspective

Recent elections and political shifts across the globe have frequently led to increasingly fragmented parliaments, presenting both challenges and opportunities for democratic processes.

Read

News from Africa

“Project HOME” examines how members of parliament (MPs) connect with their constituencies in Ghana, Namibia, and South Africa.
Professor Thalia Gerzso explores the impact on democratic participation and the balance of power with increasing adoption of bicameral legislatures in Africa.
Kenya launched its new "Open Government Partnership (OGP) National Action Plan," which outlines several roles for parliament in promoting open government principles.

African MPs convened at the Forum on Internet Freedoms in Africa (FIFAfrica24), to discuss the state of digital democracy in Francophone Africa. Hon. Agho Oliver Bamenju of the Cameroon National Assembly told us that the conference “was an avenue for digital stakeholders to have conversations about platform accountability and content moderation in Africa's high-stake elections.” He continued, “FIFAfrica24 was an opportunity for networking and collaboration through which I believe we can achieve the ambition of a more inclusive and democratic digital future for our continent.”

News from the UK

An editorial by The Guardian expressed optimism for the new House of Commons Modernization Committee.
UCL’s “Constitution Unit” hosted parliamentary experts discussing the new committee’s prospects.
A House of Lords committee recommends shortening public inquiries and tracking their recommendations to restore public trust.
A new data dashboard tracks attendance, voting, debate participation, and committee roles in the House of Lords.

News From Around the World

The Computer-Readable Legislation Project of Jersey (Channel Islands) shared an interactive mock-up of a potential future legislative drafting tool. This prototype aims to enhance the drafting process and improve the readability of legislation by allowing drafters to mark up key elements as they write.
Economist Filipe Campante argues that relocating national governments to isolated areas — as seen in Indonesia, Egypt, Brazil, and Nigeria — can negatively affect governance quality.
But a new paper by Falk Scheidig and Niklas Obergassel suggests that visiting parliament has minimal impact on political trust.
Bússola Tech hosted a panel on AI in legislative settings, where experts discussed integrating AI with existing systems while ensuring scalability and efficiency.
A new global survey by the Apolitical Foundation and GlobeScan shows that one in four people have considered running for office, but significant barriers persist.
The National Democratic Institute (NDI) announced the development of a Rapid Online Support and Assistance Mechanism (ROSA) to combat technology-facilitated gender-based violence against women in politics and public life.

News from the US: Update on Modernization

In September, the US House of Representatives passed two bills aimed at modernizing the government and saving taxpayer money. H.R. 7592 will replace the printed Constitution Annotated with a digital version, saving nearly $1 million every ten years. H.R. 7593, the “Modernizing the Congressional Research Service’s Access to Data Act,” will enhance the Congressional Research Service’s access to Executive branch information, improving its research and analysis capabilities for Congress. POPVOX Foundation applauded the passage of both bills.

Our team also published a report with recommendations for the rules changes for the upcoming 119th Congress. These include establishing a Chief Data Officer, establishing a Joint Committee on Continuity, and simplifying the House Schedule. The recommendations consider the impact of the US Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, which overturned the Chevron doctrine and will increase demands on the US Congress.

Events

October 3: Leveraging AI for Democracy: Civic Innovation on the New Digital Playing Field, hosted by the International Forum for Democratic Studies (virtual)

October 9: Advancing Democracy: A Fireside Chat on US Global Leadership & Priorities, hosted by Atlantic Council’s Freedom and Prosperity Center and the International Republican Institute (IRI) (Washington, DC and online)

October 13-27: 149th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly and related meetings (Geneva)

October 14-17: Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments (ASGP) joint session to mark the 85th anniversary of the Association (Geneva)

October 17-18: International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Library and Research Services for Parliaments Section Annual Conference (Madrid)

October 24-25: Eighth International Conference on Legislation and Law Reform, International Association of Legislation (Washington)

November 4-8: Commonwealth Parliamentary Association 67th Annual Conference (Sydney)

November 6-8: World Forum for Democracy, Council of Europe (Strasbourg)

November 6-8: 10th G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20) (Brazil)

June 18-20, 2025: Inaugural Africa Regional Conference on Parliament and Legislation (AFRIPAL) (Kampala)

Tell us your stories!

POPVOX Foundation wants to learn about your experiences in parliaments across the globe. What are examples of progress in your legislative institutions that are happening quietly and would serve as positive examples to staffers from other countries? Don’t hesitate to reach out with your stories: beatriz@popvox.org.

About POPVOX Foundation

POPVOX Foundation is a US-based nonprofit with a mission to inform and empower people and make government work better for everyone. Its dedicated team of former Congressional staffers are united by an enduring commitment to democracy and the legislative process. Through initiatives like the Comparative Legislative Strengthening Project, POPVOX Foundation connects legislative modernizers around the world through a shared passion for public service that knows no borders.

ModParl: The World Convenes