COVID Module Question 21

Which of the following “fast track” procedures were used that limited legislative oversight during the crisis?

Guidelines
Countries around the world have followed very different procedures to introduce and implement emergency fiscal policy package. In some cases, existing procedures were used. In other circumstances, new procedures have been introduced, some of which may have reduced the legislature’s capacity to effectively oversee executive action in emergency response. This question assesses the extent to which some of these “fast track” procedures were applied that limited legislative oversight.

For a summary and description of the procedures listed in the answer options, please refer to: https://read.oecd-ilibrary.org/view/?ref=137_137068-ud1l74u5hs&title=Legislative-budget-oversight-of-emergency-responses, specifically pp.6-9.

Tick boxes: ''Please check the boxes of the items that appear in the relevant documentation. If none of the items are presented, please check ‘None of the Above’. In the comment box, please provide a detailed citation for each item selected below as described in the assessment directions as well as any additional details.''


 * ☐  A State of emergency was declared.
 * ☐  Cabinet or individual ministers were empowered with emergency expenditure and law-making authority.
 * ☐  Fast-tracked parliamentary approval procedures were introduced
 * ☐  The role of the Upper Chamber was limited
 * ☐  The executive used extra-budgetary entities and other off-budget arrangements that bypassed regular legislative oversight
 * ☐  Not applicable (the country did not use any ‘fast track’ procedures that limited legislative oversight)

Should researchers only reference documents produced by the executive?
No. Researchers can use any documents produced by any public entity to answer the questions, at least to start with. We can then, when analyzing the results, decide whether these "count" or not. If you have any questions or concerns regarding a particular document, please bring it to the team.