Legal Reconstruction of Strengthening the Function of Regional Representation in Indonesia

Hananto Widodo; Muh. Ali Masnun; Intan Lovisonnya; Dicky Eko Prasetio; Noviyanti Noviyanti

doi:10.15294/jllr.v7i2.43520

Authors

Hananto Widodo Faculty of Law, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia Author https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5986-1209
Muh. Ali Masnun Faculty of Law, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7387-322X
Intan Lovisonnya Faculty of Law, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia Author https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3069-884X
Dicky Eko Prasetio Faculty of Law, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8648-0986
Noviyanti Noviyanti College of Humanities and Social Sciences, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15294/jllr.v7i2.43520

Keywords:

Regional Representative Council, Supervisory Function, People’s Representative Institution, Bicameral System

Abstract

Indonesia has two legislative bodies namely the Regional Representative Council (DPD) and the House of Representatives (DPR). Only the DPD’s oversight authority remains weak. This research focuses on analyzing the oversight function of the Regional Representative Council using a comparative law approach. It is a normative legal study with conceptual, legislative, and comparative approaches. The research findings confirm that the legal status of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) in Indonesia’s current constitutional system is still considered weak and not equal to that of the House of Representatives (DPR). The DPD’s limited oversight function, confined to specific areas such as regional autonomy and regional formation, and the imbalance of power in the bicameral system, have resulted in the DPD’s strategic role as a regional representative at the national level not being optimal. Comparative studies with bicameral systems in countries like the Netherlands, the United States, and the United Kingdom show that both chambers in a representative system of government must be given equal authority to ensure an effective system of checks and balances. Therefore, this study proposes the need to strengthen the authority and capacity of the DPD thru legal reform, both thru amendments to the 1945 Constitution with several important indicators that are strengthened, such as: the right of interpellation, the right of inquiry, the right to express an opinion, the right of subpoena, the right of impeachment, and involvement in the national budget process.

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