PARLINE database on national parliaments

The name "PARLINE" is derived from PARliaments onLINE. The PARLINE database contains information on the structure and working methods of 270 parliamentary chambers in all of the 193 countries where a national legislature exists. Parliaments that are no longer functioning, for example in countries where parliament has been dissolved or suspended for an indefinite period, are removed from PARLINE. The primary source of data is parliaments themselves. Every IPU member parliament has a correspondent who is responsible for providing information on changes and updates to the IPU Secretariat. Additional information is gathered from other sources, including national electoral commissions and the media, and is regularly cross-checked with parliament. The Presidency of the Parliament, Parliamentary Mandate, Parliamentary Oversight and Specialized Bodies modules are based on data collected in surveys carried out by IPU in recent years. There are some data gaps for these modules when no information was received from the parliament. We are working to complete any such gaps.