Parliamentary privilege

Parliamentary privilege refers generally to the special legal powers of self-regulation enjoyed by parliaments. Frequently the term is misused to refer to the perks of office: the privileges of membership of the exclusive parliamentary club. A frequently cited example of these self-protective privileges is the exemption members have from being sued for defamatory statements made in parliament, but not for words spoken outside parliament. Parliamentary privilege, however, serves larger democratic purposes by protecting all, including ordinary citizens, who participate in the parliamentary process. It does this by protecting (or privileging) parliamentary proceedings, including public participation in parliamentary inquiries, against external interference and threats of intimidation or retaliation.