Within a political system, the “legislature” is the elected or selected body that makes laws for a state. Legislatures, that are sometimes called parliament, senate or congress, perform three key roles: representation of the people, passing effective legislation, and oversight of government. To fulfill these roles effectively, they must have appropriate powers, committed members and adequate resources. However, many parliaments in developing countries are weak and become vehicles for “rubber stamping” legislation. This leads to autocracy unaccountable executive powers and can leave a state more susceptible to autocracy and corruption.