Ukrainian MPs and the Apparatus of the Verkhovna Rada suffer from the «legislative spam». The best way to solve the problem is to improve the mechanism of preparing accompanying documents, in particular explanatory memorandum. For the moment it is a formal requirement which influences neither the procedure of passing a bill nor stakeholders’ opinions. But if we change the role of explanatory memorandum, formalize its structure and introduce check lists into the Apparatus practices, it can remedy the situation regarding a huge number of bills. In addition, it can help to streamline the workflow of departments. In order to implement this option, it is needed to incorporate changes to the guidelines for legislation, in which it is necessary to define the role and structure of explanatory memorandum. Whether an explanatory memorandum meets requirements, legislators can check with the help of check list. Such method allows for examining the document according to the only structure, and it can be applied by employees with different levels of training.
Preparation of the analytical materials is a part of a project implemented by the NGO Agency of Legislative Initiatives with the support of USAID RADA Program: Responsible Accountable Democratic Assembly, implemented by East Europe Foundation.
