Explaining the Use of Information-Gathering and Initiating Parliamentary Requests in Swiss Cantons

Parliamentary requests are an important legislative tool, its use however varies across time and space. Studying all 26 Swiss cantonal parliaments from 1990-2017, this paper seeks to explain these differences in use. Based on a novel dataset, containing the annual numbers of parliamentary requests in all Swiss cantons, the paper distinguishes between parliamentary requests aimed at information gathering, i.e. parliamentary questions and question times, and parliamentary requests that initiate further action, i.e motions and postulates. The empirical analysis shows first, that these two types of requests have evolved differently over time. The increase in parliamentary requests traces to an increase in information-gathering requests. The results show second, that the distinction information-gathering and initiating requests is fruitful. The effect of democratic traditions and electoral features is stronger for information-gathering, while cultural heterogeneity is more important to explain initiating requests. Third, I show that intra- & extra-parliamentary factors explain the use parliamentary requests. Size and partisan composition of parliaments, available question channels and independent parliamentary services influence the number of parliamentary requests. Democratic, electoral and cultural differences do it as well, but here we see differences between the types. Distinguishing between different types of requests helps thus to better understand their use.