1. Introduction—Parliaments: More Professional than Ever

Enhancing the capabilities of parliamentarians through greater education and training is both a sign of increasing professionalization of the occupation and a necessary condition for the professionalization of the institution. The four distinct functions of the parliament and the unique responsibilities and qualities of parliamentarians as public officers, whose position descriptions are nonetheless ill-defined, combine to create peculiar challenges in the design and delivery of professional development programs. This chapter introduces the themes addressed by the contributors of this edition, which reflect the diverse backgrounds and range of skills related to improving the functioning and effectiveness of parliaments and parliamentarians.