Factors Affecting Effectiveness of the Ethiopian Legislature

Afework Gizaw

doi:10.7176/rhss/11-3-03

Abstract

This study aimed at assessing factors affecting FDRE (Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia) legislature in the policy making process. Along with the use of Mixed-methods research design, both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 162 respondents who were selected using random and nonrandom sampling technique. A self-constructed structured questionnaire and semi-structure interviews were used to gather research data from members of parliament, members of opposition parties, policy scholars and key stakeholders. Both confirmatory factor analysis and Multiple Regression Analysis were employed to analyze the data. The results indicate that three factors namely: political system; political will and space; and technical capacity are the major factors that make statistical significant contributions in the prediction of legislature’s effectiveness. The study recommends that there is a timely need to widening the political space as well as to make major levels of structural and administrative system improvements to make the FDRE legislature more effective in performing its entrusted policy making role. Key w ords : FDRE legislature; political system; political will and space; public policy; technical capacity DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/11-3-03 Publication date: February 28 th 2021

Highlights

Many argue that the role of legislatures is vital in order to effectively fulfill their important functions in building good governance and democratic system in a nation
Majority of previous empirical studies that dealt with the power and effectiveness level of the FDRE parliament were inconclusive on several vital questions such as: what are the factors that have a statistical significance effect on effectiveness in the public policy making process? this study was aimed at answering these questions
It was found out that, Political System, Political Will and Space, and Technical Capacity are the major statistically significant factors that affect the effectiveness of FDRE legislature in the public policy making process

Summary

Introduction

Many argue that the role of legislatures is vital in order to effectively fulfill their important functions in building good governance and democratic system in a nation. Representing the needs and wishes of citizens and groups; identifying problems and making policies to address them; and overseeing the implementation of policies so as to assure policies and programs are carried out legally, effectively, and according to legislative intent are among the basic important functions of legislatures. Some studies have been conducted in some part of the globe by different scholars According to these empirical studies, weak legal authority, ineffective leadership, party affiliation, personal views and values, cumbersome and committee processes, poorly trained staff, or lack of information, legislative seniority and committee membership significantly affect legislatures’ effectiveness (USAID, 2000; Watam, et al, 2010). The ineffectiveness of legislatures in performing their function in the policy making process has a very negative effect on the development of a nation as well as on the wellbeing of the public at large

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Conclusion