Between Apathy and Enthusiasm: An International Comparison of MPs' Attitudes Towards Parliamentary Training

Abstract

Newly elected parliamentarians face multifaceted challenges in representation, budgeting, and office-management. Added to this are policy-knowledge, understanding, facilitating and scrutinising legislation, and learning the rules of procedure. To support Members of Parliaments (MPs), many assemblies offer induction and training programmes. While some parliamentarians embrace those programmes as useful for increasing their knowledge, skills and abilities, others state that their role is best learned ‘on the job’. Understanding, why MPs respond differently to training offers will help to better target professional development programmes to particular groups or types of parliamentarians. As part of the Parliamentary Careers project, this article explores whether the MPs training-attitude can be linked to their socio-demographic background, their previous careers in- and outside parliament, structural issues or particular political cultures. Based on 70 interviews conducted at eight national legislatures it identifies different types of training compliance.