Parliamentary oversight between institutional activation and political utilization: A bibliometric and systematic literature review

Abstract

In an era of increasing demands for political accountability, the role of parliamentary oversight remains both essential and contested. While legislative bodies are tasked with scrutinizing the executive, the actual influence of their oversight tools is often unclear. This analysis explores global research on parliamentary oversight published between 2019 and 2024, employing a dual-method approach that combines bibliometric analysis with a systematic literature review (SLR) under the PRISMA framework. A total of 519 studies were retrieved from the Scopus database and narrowed down through rigorous inclusion criteria to 13 articles forming the core of this review. The findings indicate that, although oversight mechanisms such as parliamentary questions and committee inquiries are widely used, their effectiveness varies significantly across different political systems. Factors such as legal enforceability, institutional independence, and political will are recurring elements that influence outcomes. Countries like Germany and Switzerland demonstrate relatively strong oversight practices, whereas transitional democracies often face challenges with symbolic or fragmented oversight. Methodologically, the field predominantly relies on agency theory and quantitative tools, with a growing interest in mixed-method approaches. This study offers a comprehensive mapping of the literature and proposes an integrated research model to guide future investigations into the evolving role of oversight in democratic governance. The increasing emphasis on oversight reflects heightened global concerns about democratic erosion and executive dominance, especially during crises such as COVID-19. Theoretically, most studies utilize agency theory to understand accountability dynamics, supplemented by institutionalism and emerging gender-based perspectives. Methodologically, there is a rising recognition of mixed-method approaches and digital tools, such as AI-assisted content analysis, which highlight new frontiers for parliamentary oversight research.