We are delighted to announce that the Fifteenth Workshop of Parliamentary Scholars and Parliamentarians, will be held on Saturday 30 July and Sunday 31 July 2022 at Wroxton College, Near Banbury, Oxfordshire, UK.

The Workshop serves to bring together scholars and parliamentarians – from legislatures around the globe – to discuss research findings likely to be of practical interest to members of parliaments.  The event is notable not only for panel presentations, but also for the opportunity for informal discourse between scholars and practitioners, enabling each to benefit from the knowledge of the other.

Details of the most recent Workshops, with the topics of papers delivered, can be found on the Workshop’s website: www.wroxtonworkshop.org Topics covered in previous Workshops have included the challenges to parliamentary democracy in developing nations, benchmarks for democratic legislatures, parliamentary accountability, measuring parliamentary performance, post-legislative scrutiny, MP-constituency links, the role of committees, the remuneration of MPs, parliaments and political parties, voting dissent, legislatures and the courts, ministerial accountability, the use of informal space in legislatures, and the role of independent members.

Paper proposals are invited for the Fifteenth Workshop.  Proposals are invited that cover any aspect of legislatures – their development, behaviour, functions and consequences – and present findings likely to have practical relevance for parliamentarians.  Papers that address issues of development, accountability, legislative scrutiny, international co-operation and transparency are especially welcome.  Papers may be country specific, though papers that present comparative research are encouraged.  It is anticipated that there will be a concluding plenary round-table session, similar to those held at recent Workshops which addressed international co-operation and research by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the challenges facing legislatures today.

Papers should be prepared and submitted electronically at least three weeks prior to the Workshop.  Papers are normally 5,000 to 7,000 words in length (though shorter papers are also welcome) and may be considered for publication in The Journal of Legislative Studies.

Paper proposals (no more than 300 words), plus suggestions for panels and requests for further information, should be sent to:

Professor The Lord Norton of Louth,
Centre for Legislative Studies,
University of Hull,
HULL HU6 7RX,
United Kingdom.

E-mail: p.norton@hull.ac.uk

Paper proposals should arrive no later than Monday 31 January 2022.  Up to that date, paper proposals will be considered as soon as received.  Decisions will normally be made within a month of receipt.  Early submission is therefore advised.