ABSTRACT
The systematic study of parliamentary questions, their strategic uses and their consequences remains largely unexplored by political scientists. Drawing on the wider theoretical literature on political roles and political representation, this research examines the relationship between parliamentary questions and political roles in Canada. Using data compiled from the 34th–37th Canadian federal parliaments, a negative binomial regression model of parliamentary question-asking demonstrates that Canadian Members of Parliament are both socialised into their roles and that they rationally adapt their behaviour to meet their political needs particularly with respect to electoral motivations. However, the empirical results emphasise rationally adapted behaviour more than role socialisation.
