A Global Infrastructure for the Study of Legislative Processes and Lawmaking

On 21 November, a webinar was held to present LEGDAT, a pioneering dataset designed to systematically capture how legislative processes unfold across countries. Legislatures play a central role in policymaking, yet comparative research has long lacked comprehensive and harmonized information on the advancement of bills. LEGDAT addresses this gap by documenting the progression of more than 350,000 bills and 60,000 laws across 16 countries.

The dataset standardizes key information such as bill initiation, committee referral, legislative stages, final votes, outcomes (passage or rejection), and post-enactment modifications. Its depth and breadth make it possible to analyse procedural dynamics, legislative stability over time, and cross-country differences in lawmaking. During the webinar, the presenters validated the dataset against existing sources and showcased its potential through descriptive statistics and comparative insights. With its combination of temporal depth, geographic coverage, and process-level detail, LEGDAT sets a new benchmark for empirical research on legislative organization, political dynamics, and democratic responsiveness. Regular updates will ensure its continued relevance.

Speakers:

• Mihály Fazekas – Professor, Department of Public Policy, Central European University; Scientific Director, Government Transparency Institute
• Cyril Benoît – CNRS Researcher at Sciences Po, Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics; specialist in political institutions and comparative political economy
• Sebastian Thieme – Postdoctoral Researcher at Sciences Po, Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics; expert in political economy, legislative politics, lobbying, and quantitative methods

You can rewatch the webinar here: