When the U.S. Congress broke for the July 4th recess, some members headed for a town hall meeting. Familiar topics — schools, infrastructure, disabled people's rights — were on the agenda, but this meeting took place far from their home districts. The setting was the Liberian village of Kakata, where eight members of the U.S. House of Representatives were there to take it all in.

"Our delegation had been invited to attend not as participants but as observers — as witnesses to Liberia's fragile but maturing democracy, five years after free and fair elections brought an end to one of the bloodiest civil wars in modern history," Reps. David Price, D-N.C., and David Dreier, R-Calif., wrote in a joint post on The Hill's Congress Blog. "And like voters the world over, these constituents weren't about to let their elected representatives escape the podium easily."

Such opportunities for interaction between lawmakers and constituents are relatively new in Liberia, and members of the U.S. delegation were able to share their experiences and tips for improving interactions with constituents. The visit was supported by the House Democracy Partnership (HDP), an organization created by the House to support emerging democratic governments around the world. Price and Dreier, chairman and ranking member of HDP, and six other U.S. lawmakers as well as members of their staffs met with Liberian legislators and staff.

In the capital city of Monrovia, they discussed the role of committees in advancing legislation and ways staff can contribute most effectively to creating good legislation. Both sides shared experiences working on budget analysis, committee operations and parliamentary procedures.

The current Liberian legislature, elected in 2005, is still working to strengthen its role as an equal branch of government alongside a strong executive. That's where discussions with HDP representatives are most useful as the Liberian legislators work to develop effective strategies for asserting their executive oversight responsibilities, increasing openness and interacting with constituents and passing legislation that responds to citizen needs.

The Liberian legislative library has recently been renovated.

During the visit, Liberian President Pro Tempore Cletus Wotorson and Speaker of the House Alex Tyler, along with Price and Dreier, toured the legislature's new library and archives. The facility has recently been renovated with support from HDP, the United States Agency for International Development and NDI. The improved space, modern and comfortable, has resources that the legislators and staff can use to gather information needed to conduct better oversight and write more effective laws.

NDI is also contributing library resources, including a collection of books and periodicals, legal references and how-to guides. The space will be furnished with computers, office equipment, study carrels and reading tables. The archives will house original copies of legislation, transcripts from plenary sessions and public hearings, as well as other reports documenting the work of the legislature.

During a brief ceremony, the Liberian and U.S. lawmakers dedicated a plaque for the new space. "There is not a legislature in the world that can afford to operate without access to information and the research services of a library and expect to have solid information," Price said during the ceremony.

The Liberian legislature's collaboration with HDP began in 2006 and has provided a variety of opportunities for members from both countries to share information and gain a better understanding of one another. This was the third trip by HDP members to Liberia, and Liberian lawmakers and staff have traveled to the United States on several occasions to observe how the U.S. Congress does its work. Liberian representatives also took part in a staff institute on improving research services that HDP, in partnership with NDI, organized in Warsaw, Poland, earlier this year. The partnership complements NDI's work with Liberian legislators and staff to as they fulfill their primary responsibilities as legislators: making laws, representing constituents and oversight of the executive branch.

Related:

• Maturing and developing democracies share experiences on parliamentary research services»
• Liberian legislature building budget analysis capability»
• NDI supports House Democracy Partnership in sharing good practice»
• Liberian legislature program helps bring democracy to the people»

Pictured above: Rep. Dreier and members of the Liberian legislature in the House chamber.

Published on September 8, 2010