Taking Members of the Israeli Knesset (MKs) as a case study, this book offers a comparative analysis of the various roles performed by Members of Parliament (MPs) within the framework of their job in democracies around the world.

Based on the author's experience of working in and for the Knesset, from 1977 to 2010, this book questions the lack of a comprehensive job description not only for MKs but also for similar roles in parliamentary democracies globally. The author finds that a serious perusal of materials dealing with the job's various components - in the Israeli case, for example, basic laws, the Knesset Rules of Procedure, the Rules of Ethics for MKs, minutes of the Knesset Plenum and Committees and so forth - presents an almost complete picture of the MK's job that like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle merely need be assembled together. Finding the job of MPs in general, and of MKs specifically, definable, this book argues that it ought to be defined considering the centrality of this role for a democracy's functioning.

This innovative book will not only prove useful for scholars of Israeli governance and legislation but will also be of interest to scholars of parliamentarism and comparative legislative politics in general.

Susan Hattis Rolef received a BSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics, UK, in 1965, and her PhD from the University Institute of International Relations in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1970. She has lectured at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem in the Department of International Relations. Between the years 1994 to 2010 she held various positions in the Knesset, inter alia in the library, in the construction of the Knesset website, as a researcher in the Knesset Research and Information Center and assisted the Knesset Foreign Affairs Department.

Taking Members of the Israeli Knesset, MKs, as a case study, this book offers a comparative analysis of the role of Members of Parliament (MPs) in democracies around the world.

Based on the author's experience of working for the Knesset, this book questions the lack of a comprehensive job description not only for MKs, but also for similar roles in parliamentary democracies globally. The author finds that a serious perusal of materials dealing with the job's various components - in the Israeli case, for example, basic laws, the Knesset Rules of Procedure, the Rules of Ethics for MKs, minutes of the Knesset Committees - present a complete picture of the MK's job that only need be put in definition. Finding the job of MPs in general, and of MKs specifically, definable, this book argues that it ought to be defined considering the centrality of this role for a democracy's functioning.

This innovative book will not only prove useful for scholars of Israeli governance and legislation but will also be of interest to scholars of parliamentarism and comparative legislative politics in general.

List of Tables About the Author Preface Acknowledgments Lexicon of Acronyms, Terms, and Institutions

Introduction: An Undefined Job - Theoretical Background

Part I: The Essence of the Job and its Components

1. The Essence of Representation

Section I.A: The Classic Parliamentary Roles

2. The Legislative Role

2.1. Government Legislation 2.2. Private Members' Bills

3. The Constituent and Reformatory Role

4. Parliamentary Oversight and Scrutiny of the Executive Branch

4.1. Oversight and Supervision in General 4.2. Oversight and Supervision of Foreign and Defense Policy

5. Parliamentary and National Agenda Setting

Section I.B: Activity on Behalf of Voters, Citizens, Constituencies, and Sectors

6. Mediation Between Citizens and the Authorities

7. Representation of an Electoral District or a Sector

Section I.C: Positions that Serve the Running of Parliament and the Government

8. Official and Semi-official Positions

9. International Activity

10. The Judicial Role

Section I.D: Additional Roles

11. The Legitimation Role

12. The Effect of Belonging to a Party that is in the Government or in the Opposition

Part II: Restrictions and Limitations to the Job

13. Reservations to Candidacy for and Membership in Parliament

14. Compliance with the Law

15. Conflict of Interests

16. Political Party Activity

17. Activity for Reelection

18. Are Defense of Democracy and its Promotion Part of the Job?

Part III: Why the Job Ought to be Defined

19. The Process of Professionalization

19.1. Is Membership in Parliament a Profession? 19.2. Membership in Parliament as Part of a Political Career and as a Fulltime Occupation 19.3. Improving the Professional Qualifications of the MP

Section III.A.: The Rights and Duties of MPs that are Defined as a Function of their Job

20. The Immunity of MPs

21. Determining MPs' Salaries

22. Reimbursement of Expenses

23. Employment of Parliamentary Assistants

24. Rules of Ethics

Section III.B.: Ignorance of the Public and Amongst MPs About the Job

25. Lack of Knowledge by the Public About the Essence of the MP's Job

26. Do the MPs Themselves Know What Their Job Is?

Conclusion

Epilogue Bibliography