Horizontal Accountability examines the relationship between the executive branch and other state institutions as well as the extent to which other state institutions can hold the government accountable, particularly in terms of demanding information and addressing inappropriate behavior. Various indicators monitor the following criteria and associated questions:
(1) Effectiveness of independent oversight bodies: To what extent are independent oversight bodies such as the audit office or the data protection authority able to exercise effective oversight?
(2) Rule of law: To what extent can an independent judiciary ensure that the government, administration, and legislature act in accordance with the constitution and laws, respect and defend fundamental rights? To what extent are public officials prevented from abusing their positions for private interests, and are precautionary measures in place to prevent such abuses?
(3) Effectiveness of legislative oversight: To what extent do members of the legislature have sufficient personnel and structural resources to effectively control the government? Are legislative committees capable of practically monitoring the government’s activities and do they have the power to investigate unconstitutional or illegal activities of the executive? To what extent are the organization and functioning of legislative committees effective in drafting legislative proposals?
Type of variable: Continuous
Downloaded by QoG on: 2025-01-20
Last updated by source: 2024-12-17
| Dataset | No. Countries |
|---|---|
| Standard cross-section: | 30 |