Parliaments

This group focuses on the study of parliament and our members include single country specialists as well as those with comparative interests. Our research encompasses questions about executive-legislative relations, scrutiny, organisation and procedure, committees, institutional change and reform, parliamentary parties, representation, parliamentary careers, public engagement and trust.

Our members work on a wide range of legislatures, at national, sub-national and supra-national levels of governance, and encompass both modern and historical perspectives, as well as qualitative and quantitative approaches.

The group convenors are Stephen Holden Bates (s.r.bates@bham.ac.uk) and Alexandra Meakin (a.meakin@sheffield.ac.uk). Our Communications Officer is Gavin Hart (g.hart@hud.ac.uk), our Treasurer is Sean Haughey (sean.haughey@liverpool.ac.uk), and our Membership Officer is Caroline Bhattacharya (caroline.bhattacharya@helsinki.fi). Please get in touch if you would like further information or have any suggestions for the group.

To keep up to date with the group's activities, please click this link to visit our dedicated website.

The PSA's network of 60 Specialist Groups (SGs) offers a research focus for all members and covers a vast range of specialities within the discipline. SGs provide an opportunity for groups of academics who share a common interest in a particular area of the discipline to organise meetings, coordinate communication, as as outlets for research – as well as giving PSA members opportunities for developing their academic impact and professional development.

Convenor can view the SG Handbook here.

If you would like to learn more or have any questions, do get in touch via SpecialistGroups@psa.ac.uk or with Arianna Giovannini (arianna.giovannini@dmu.ac.uk), the Specialist Groups Trustee.