Das reformierte Fragerecht im Berliner Abgeordnetenhaus: wirklich eine Stärkung des Parlaments?

Abstract

Berlin’s state parliament approved of a comprehensive reform of its question rights at the start of 2014: So-called big questions were abolished, and the oral questions were reduced to a spontaneous form . Since then, there have been only simple oral and written questions in the Berlin parliament which can be used by single parliamentarians and not by parlia- mentary party groups . Accompanying this reform, Members of Parliament got more finan- cial means to hire personal staff for their work . After the reform, oral questions were asked less often while there was a massive surge in the use of written questions . Moreover, Mem- bers of Parliament supporting the government asked more questions than before, and a focus on statistical and cost questions has become visible . All in all, there has been a trend towards frequent questioning and fast answering, at the expense of bigger question projects that serve developing concepts (in particular on the side of the opposition) . Whether or not the reform has led to a strengthening of parliament – which the reform proponents had advocated for – is open for discussion based on the findings presented here .