Democratic Oversight of Intelligence Services - Parliament, Government and Judiciary as Institutions for Oversight

Abstract

In this article author is discussing the proccess of setting up democratic oversight over intelligence services in democracy (parliamentary, governmental and judiciary oversight). The purpose of intelligence services is to inform and warn policymakers, by providing independent analysis of information relevant to the security of state and society and the protection of its vital interests.

To establish democratic oversight over intelligence services, democracies must set a clear and comprehensive legal framework which must define the area of responsibility of the services, the limits of their competence, the mechanisms of oversight and accountability and legal means to deal with complaints in cases of violation of rights. In democracies, oversight of intelligence services is exercised by legaslative, executive and judicial entities.