The Administrations of National Parliaments and the Scrutiny of EU Affairs

In the academic literature on parliaments, as in the public debate, the main focus is usually on the party political dimension of parliamentary work: the adoption of legislation or annual budgets, the election and scrutiny of the executive and their important role in the political system as a forum for debate on key issues. Yet, in order to function as institutions and exercise their functions, parliaments also rely on administrative structures and appointed officials.