One of the foundational methods legislatures use to promote democratic governance is drafting laws based on objective research, and Parliamentary Research Services (PRS) play a crucial role in this process. These services are the primary institutions that support legislators by providing fact-based research products tailored to address issues at the heart of their constituents' needs. Legislatures require an independent source of non-partisan research for members to make informed decisions.

The biannual International Anti-Corruption Conference hosted by Transparency International (TI) is the largest gathering of anti-corruption experts, activists, and government officials around the globe. This year’s edition gathered over 2,000 such actors, including the President of Lithuania, for four days in beautiful Vilnius, Lithuania, to discuss progress, new approaches, and new tools in the fight against corruption and the safeguarding of democracy.

Last week, from 18 to 21 June, more than 2,000 civil society activists, journalists, government officials and private sector actors convened at the International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) in Vilnius, Lithuania, to discuss lessons learned and good practices for the fight against corruption. 

One of the key ways that legislatures promote democratic governance and accountability for their constituents is by participating in the yearly process of scrutinizing and authorizing the executive’s budget proposal for government spending. As the national institution most closely linked to the population’s demands, legislatures have a special responsibility to engage with the budget process to ensure that it is transparent and reflects citizen priorities.