Parliament as an Alternative Control Mechanism

Abstract

As a control mechanism, Parliament differs substantially from markets and bureaucracies. Parliament is a body of representatives assembled to perform legislative functions on behalf of the public. Market controls are direct interventions by parties actually involved in, among others, litigation, contract, credit control and price mechanisms; administrative controls affect management, supervision, evaluation, and planning. Both market and administrative controls either arise from or are deployed within the processes of production, commerce and trade, while parliamentary inputs are intermittent and cannot replace the dominant control mechanisms.