Member of parliament

Description

Members of parliament represent their political party’s interests in parliaments. They perform legislative duties, developing and proposing new laws, and communicate with government officials to assess current issues and government operations. They oversee the implementation of laws and policies and function as government representatives to the public to ensure transparency.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to member of parliament:

assembly member
legislative member
member of european parliament

Minimum qualifications

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as member of parliament. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Member of parliament is a Skill level 4 occupation.

Member of parliament career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to member of parliament.

senator
government minister
provincial governor
mayor
public affairs consultant

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of member of parliament. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of member of parliament with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of member of parliament.

Government policy implementation: The procedures related to the application of government policies at all levels of public administration.
Legislation procedure: The procedures involved in the making of laws and legislation, such as which organisations and individuals are involved, the process of how bills become laws, the proposal and reviewing process, and other steps in the legislation procedure.
Rhetoric: The art of discourse that aims at improving the ability of writers and speakers to inform, persuade or motivate their audience.
Constitutional law: The regulations dealing with the fundamental principles or established precedents which govern a state or organisation.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of member of parliament.

Ensure information transparency: Ensure that required or requested information is provided clearly and completely, in a manner which does not explicitly withhold information, to the public or requesting parties.
Present legislation proposition: Present the proposition for new items of legislation or changes to existing legislation in a manner which clear, persuasive, and compliant with regulations.
Analyse legislation: Analyse the existing legislation from a national or local government in order to assess which improvements could be made and which items of legislation could be proposed.
Prepare legislation proposition: Prepare the necessary documentation in order to propose a new item of legislation or a change to existing legislation, according to regulations.
Perform debates: Construct and present arguments used in a constructive debate and discussion in order to convince the opposing party or a neutral third party of the debater’s stance.
Make legislative decisions: Decide independently or in collaboration with other legislators on the acceptance or rejection of new items of legislation, or changes in the existing legislation.
Manage government policy implementation: Manage the operations of the implementation of new government policies or changes in existing policies on a national or regional level as well as the staff involved in the implementation procedure.
Perform political negotiation: Perform debate and argumentative dialogue in a political context, using negotiation techniques specific to political contexts in order to obtain the desired goal, ensure compromise, and maintain cooperative relations.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of member of parliament. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Political parties: The ideas and principles that political parties stand for and the politicians representing them.
Government representation: The legal and public representation methods and procedures of the government during trial cases or for communication purposes, and the specific aspects of the governmental bodies being represented in order to ensure accurate representation.
Political science: The systems of government, the methodology concerning the analysis of political activity and behaviour, and the theory and practice of influencing people and acquiring governance.
Political campaigning: The procedures involved in conducting a succesful political campaign, such as the specific research methods, promotional tools, liaising with the public, and other strategic aspects concerning the organising and conducting of political campaigns.
Public law: The part of law which governs relationships between individuals and the government, and the relationships between individuals which concern society directly.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of member of parliament. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Promote political campaign: Promote the political party or politician before and during election when the political campaign is being held to ensure a wide audience and the most beneficial outcome possible for the political candidate or party, by performing promotional activities.
Apply conflict management: Take ownership of the handling of all complaints and disputes showing empathy and understanding to achieve resolution. To be fully aware of all Social Responsibility protocols and procedures, and to be able to deal with a problem gambling situation in a professional manner with maturity and empathy.
Liaise with local authorities: Maintain the liaison and exchange of information with regional or local authorities.
Establish collaborative relations: Establish a connection between organisations or individuals which may benefit from communicating with one another in order to facilitate an enduring positive collaborative relationship between both parties.
Monitor political conflicts: Monitor the possibility and development of political conflicts in specific contexts, such as in or between political parties, governments, or between different countries, as well as identifying its potential impact on government operations, and public safety.
Perform public relations: Perform public relations (PR) by managing the spread of information between an individual or an organisation and the public.
Perform government ceremonies: Perform the ritual tasks and duties, according to traditions and regulations, as a representative of the government during an official government ceremonial event.
Assess risk factors: Determine the influence of economical, political and cultural risk factors and additional issues.
Advise on legislative acts: Advise officials in a legislature on the propositioning of new bills and the consideration of items of legislation.
Build international relations: Build positive communication dynamics with organisations from different countries in order to build a cooperative relationship and optimise information exchange.
Conduct public presentations: Speak in public and interact with those present. Prepare notices, plans, charts, and other information to support the presentation.

ISCO group and title

1111 – Legislators

 

 


 

 

References
  1. Member of parliament – ESCO
Last updated on August 8, 2022