This paper attempts to document some of the current efforts by which legislatures are trying to play a more influential role in government. The first section of this paper focuses on defining the role of parliaments. The second section presents four models of legislatures, depending on the power and influence they have on the executive. The third section of the paper seeks to outline some factors that impact the relative power of the legislature and the executive. Section four attempts to describe some of the efforts that parliaments are making to strengthen themselves.