Political Groups and Parliament: Evolution and Function

Political Groups: Evolution and Function

These political groups are different from those of today, operating both in Parliament and in public opinion. From a political point of view, it should be noted that initially, significant groups were those with a specific activity and those linked to their position as representatives in Parliament. The key feature is that there was no organization.

They had an informal character. Schools of thought were primarily specific cases but may or may not have coincided in their assessment.

Their function differed depending on the practice of each country. Two situations could occur:

• In the event that the State had a solid agreement on the budget, the parties acted with a permanent tension between them, creating a dynamic of laws and regulations that facilitated and promoted development. They claimed that their interests were general. The groups acted as constituent parties.
• The political groups acted as constituent parties. The law of association involved extensive involvement, and partnerships were defined as unacceptable for law and order.

In the second half of the nineteenth century, this law was used against the associations of workers' movements.

We can mention a general classification by Triepel on developments regarding political associations. He speaks of four stages:

• Contempt for political groups.
• Attitude of tolerance. They remained illegal even though the State acted in a repressive manner.
• State-level law recognized these associations. They began to be accepted as a specific group.
• Following the Second World War, the role of political parties opened to the Constitution, recognizing them as well-defined groups.

The right to vote was extended and made more comprehensive, and political groups that were in play became groups with a stable organization, a broad electoral base, and a broad ideology.

In our Constitution, Article 6 recognizes political parties and their constitutional role.

How to Organize the Work of Parliament

With the establishment of the State Constitution, Parliament assumed a wide range of functions, such as the budget function and regulation, though no doubt the basic function of Parliament is the legislative function.

The constitutional interest lies in how it will ensure that decisions taken are objective and justified in these budgets. Therefore, the central theme of the constitutional state will also be the question of what criteria govern the work of the Assembly of Representatives and, through that, what standards could ensure working conditions in Parliament.

There are two models to consider for regulating the work of the Assembly of Representatives:

- Continental model. Originating in France, this is a deliberative model.