Australia

On 9 May 2001, the Australian Parliament celebrated the centenary of its founding in an exceptional joint sitting. The ceremony, attended by some 7,000 persons, took place in the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne, the same building where, a century previously, the Duke of Cornwall and York, the future George the Fifth, inaugurated the first Federal Parliament, which was established on 1 January 1901 and brought together the first MPs elected by the young nation.

Belarus

On 16 April 2001, President Lukashenka's decree banning foreign financial assistance for election-related activities or even seminars went into effect. The decree, which was issued on 12 March 2001, prohibits the use of foreign aid for activities intended to change the constitutional system or overthrow State authorities. In particular, the decree bans the use of foreign funds for the preparation of elections, rallies, strikes, seminars, "propaganda materials," and "other forms of propaganda-related activities among the population."

Bulgaria

Bulgaria's Central Election Committee officially registered King Simeon II's movement to run in the 17 June 2001 parliamentary elections. The National Movement for Simeon II will form a coalition with the Bulgarian Women's Party and the Movement for National Revival. The coalition will have the name of the King's movement. King Simeon II was forced to create the coalition with the two registered parties after the Sofia City Court refused to register his movement because it did not meet all the necessary requirements. The Supreme Court upheld the verdict following an appeal by the King.

Czech Republic

On 24 January 2001, the Constitutional Court upheld a complaint by President Havel and 33 senators against an amendment to the electoral law that had previously been passed by the Chamber of Deputies. The Court ruled that the bill violated constitutional provisions as it introduced elements of a majority system whereas the Constitution provides for a proportional representation system. Accordingly, the court abolished an amendment that would have divided the Czech Republic into 35 instead of nine electoral districts on the grounds that it would have made it more difficult for smaller parties to gain representation and benefited the Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) and the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), the sponsors of the amendment. A provision stating that electoral alliances had to gain five per cent of the vote for each member of the alliance was upheld.

France

On 15 May 2001, the President of the Republic approved Organic Law No. 2001-419 amending the expiry date of the powers of the National Assembly, now fixed on the third Tuesday in June in the fifth year following its election. This provision will apply to the National Assembly elected in June 1997. Previously, the powers of the National Assembly expired on the first Tuesday in April of the fifth year following its election.

Guyana

An Electoral Code of Conduct was approved on 3 March 2001 and was signed by all parties that contested the 19 March 2001 general elections. This document sets out the standards to guide relationships between political parties and requires that candidates, agents, members, and supporters of contesting parties to be on their best behaviour throughout the campaign period..

Kenya

On 20 February 2001, the Speaker of the National Assembly initiated a review of the rules governing parliamentary conduct after a fight between Members. Heestablished a House subcommittee to review Standing Orders and legislation covering Members' conduct. The public has been invited to suggest disciplinary measures.

Madagascar

On 18 March 2001, the first elections for the 60 elective seats in the reinstated Senate were held. President Didier Ratsiraka abolished this body when he took power in 1975, replacing it with a Supreme Revolutionary Council, whose members he selected. The Senate was reintroduced officially in 1992 under the Constitution of the Third Republic. The 60 elected members were joined by 30 more senators appointed by the President.

Nigeria

On 30 April 2001, a debate was initiated on the Constitution and amendments thereto proposed by a government appointed committee. Among the proposed amendments is the prolongation of the term of office of the President of the Republic and the regional governors from four to five years. The present Constitution was drafted at the end of the military regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar in May 1999.

Also in April 2001, two new political associations, the National Solidarity Association (NSA) and the National Frontiers (NF), formally announced their entry onto Nigeria's political stage. The NSA's membership is drawn largely from among friends and associates of former President General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, who led the country from 1985 to 1993. The leaders of the NF include ex-governors and military chiefs as well as Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Poland

On 30 April 2001, President Aleksander Kwasniewski signed into law a new election bill that had previously provoked controversy between its sponsors (the Solidarity Electoral Action along with smaller parliamentary groups) and the opposition Democratic Left Alliance (SLD). The new law changes the method of allocating seats in Parliament to ensure broader representation for parties with fewer votes. The new law also regulates party finances and bans corporate financing of political campaigns.

Republic of Congo

On 12 April 2001, the delegates at a national convention on inter-Congolese dialogue, in Brazzaville, approved the draft Constitution which, according to an official timetable, must be put to a referendum before the end of 2001.

The draft Constitution makes provision for a presidential regime with a Head of State who is elected by direct universal suffrage for seven years and eligible for re-election once. Legislative power will be entrusted to a bicameral Parliament, composed of the National Assembly and the Senate.

Singapore

On 20 April 2001, the Parliamentary Elections Bill was passed by the Parliament. Under the new bill, the right to vote has been extended for the first time to overseas Singaporeans, although ballots can only be cast in Beijing, Canberra, Hong Kong, London and Washington, where the Embassies are considered large enough to handle the voting. Voting via computers has also been approved for selected constituencies and recounts will only be allowed when the difference between candidates is no more than two per cent of the votes cast in a constituency.

United Kingdom

On 16 April 2001, the Electoral Commission, created under the (2000) Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act came into being. This Commission is responsible for:

• monitoring compliance with the new rules regarding campaign spending for elections and referenda;
• reviewing laws and practices relating to elections and referenda; and
• maintaining a register of political parties.

United States of America

On 24 May 2001, Senator James Jeffords of Vermont left the Republican Party, becoming an independent and giving control of the Senate to the Democratic Party for the first time since 1994. In the Senate, there are now 50 Democrats, 49 Republicans and one independent. The Republicans have the support of Vice President Dick Cheney, who as President of the Senate is able to cast tie-breaking votes.

Zambia

In March 2001, the National Assembly passed an amendment to the Electoral Law. According to this amendment, the compilation, maintenance and updating of the register of voters have to be done on a continuous basis