The legislative body as consumer of information
The article gives an overview of the legislative body as a special type of information consumer.
In using the term information consumption, we must see the information process as an integral whole consisting of the need for information, searches for information, and the usage of search results. The article covers the need, search and usage of occupational, recreational, practical and background information in the context of legislatures. Surveyed are characteristics of legislatures in information protocol and information blocks and barriers, as well as studies.
Legislatures are grouped by their information consumption according to a Polsby theory whereby legislatures can be divided into four categories: rubber stamp legislature, functioning legislature, informed legislature and a transformative legislature.