Articles

Reconstructing DPR Oversight Norms: Constitutional Implications of Weakening Checks and Balances in Indonesia

    Authors

  • Achmad Hariri Faculty of Law, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surabaya, Indonesia.
  • A. Basuki Babussalam Fakultas Hukum, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surabaya, Indonesia
  • L.ya Esti Pratiwi Fakultas Hukum, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surabaya, Indonesia
Published 30-09-2026
Pages 255-273
Section Articles
Statistics 4 views   0 downloads

Abstract

The constitutional oversight function of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) faces severe challenges under a supermajority parliamentary composition, which tends to weaken legislative control. This study analyzes the institutional barriers within Article 79 paragraph (3) of Law No. 17 of 2014 (UU MD3) during the 2024–2029 DPR composition, where the pro-government coalition controls 81.0% of legislative seats. This research offers novelty by identifying a specific legal gap in the quorum provision of Article 79 paragraph (3) of Law No. 17 of 2014. It proposes a "qualified minority right" mechanism with a 15% threshold and mandatory proportional representation of minority factions. Utilizing a normative juridical research method with comparative, statute, and conceptual approaches, this paper examines how expansive ruling alliances weaponize formal legislative frameworks to neutralize accountability tools. The findings reveal that while the statutory threshold for initiating an inquiry is legally accessible to the 19.0% opposition faction, the true normative defect lies in the mandatory plenary-majority approval requirement. This allows the supermajority coalition to enforce an absolute institutional veto. To resolve this, this study proposes an automatic statutory minority prerogative that eliminates the majoritarian plenary veto.

    Keywords

  • checks and balances
  • DPR
  • grand coalition
  • law no. 17 of 2014
  • legislative oversight

References

  1. Ahmed, Manzoor. “Political Economy of Elite Capture and Clientelism in Public Resource Distribution: Theory and Evidence From Balochistan, Pakistan.” India Quarterly a Journal of International Affairs, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1177/09749284231165115.
  2. Alam, Rizwana, and Jon C Lovett. “Prospects of Public Participation in the Planning and Management of Urban Green Spaces in Lahore: A Discourse Analysis.” Sustainability, 2019. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11123387.
  3. Álvarez-Rosete, Arturo, and Benjamin Hawkins. “Advocacy Coalitions, Contestation, and Policy Stasis: The 20 Year Reform Process of the Colombian Health System.” Latin American Policy, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1111/lamp.12141.
  4. Aspinall, Edward, and Eve Warburton. “Indonesia: The Dangers of Democratic Regression,” 2018. https://doi.org/10.2991/icsps-17.2018.1.
  5. Asrinaldi, Asrinaldi, Mohammad Agus Yusoff, and dan Zamzami Abdul Karim. “Oligarchy in the Jokowi Government and Its Influence on the Implementation of Legislative Function in Indonesia.” Asian Journal of Comparative Politics, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1177/2057891121995564.
  6. Bai, Ming, Yanru Chen, Hong Ye, and Zhongqi Yang. “A Study of the Impact of Executive Corruption on Corporate Innovation.” Systems, 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/systems12010025.
  7. Batista, Mariana. “Power-Sharing, Presidential Style: Issue Salience and Portfolio Allocation in Multiparty Presidential Systems.” Political Research Quarterly, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1177/10659129221119205.
  8. Baumann, Markus, Marc Debus, and Jochen Müller. “Personal Characteristics of MPs and Legislative Behavior in Moral Policymaking.” Legislative Studies Quarterly, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1111/lsq.12072.
  9. Bayeh, Endalachew. “Single-Party Dominance in Ethiopia: FPTP Electoral System and Parliamentary Government System as Contributing Factors.” Rudn Journal of Political Science, 2018. https://doi.org/10.22363/2313-1438-2018-20-4-506-515.
  10. Bersch, Katherine, Félix López, and Matthew M Taylor. “Patronage and Presidential Coalition Formation.” Political Research Quarterly, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1177/10659129221100830.
  11. Bima, Muhammad Rinaldy, and Rizki Ramadani. “Position of Supervisory Board Organ and Its Implications for the Institutional Corruption Eradication Commission.” Law Reform, 2020. https://doi.org/10.14710/lr.v16i2.33770.
  12. Bruycker, Iskander De. “Politicization and the Public Interest: When Do the Elites in Brussels Address Public Interests in EU Policy Debates?” European Union Politics, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1177/1465116517715525.
  13. Bustamin, Bustamin, and Rony Jaya. “Urgensi Checks and Balances Ketatanegaraan Indonesia Dan Islam.” Juris (Jurnal Ilmiah Syariah), 2019. https://doi.org/10.31958/juris.v18i2.1740.
  14. Chaisty, Paul, and Stephen Whitefield. “Building Voting Coalitions in Electoral Authoritarian Regimes: A Case Study of the 2020 Constitutional Reform in Russia.” Post-Soviet Affairs, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1080/1060586x.2023.2172945.
  15. Clement, Desireé. “Factors Influencing Georgia Legislators’ Decision-Making on Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice.” Policy Politics & Nursing Practice, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1177/1527154418817036.
  16. Crosson, Jesse, Alexander Furnas, Timothy M LaPira, and Casey Burgat. “Partisan Competition and the Decline in Legislative Capacity Among Congressional Offices.” Legislative Studies Quarterly, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1111/lsq.12301.
  17. Dettman, Sebastian. “Challenges of Ethnic Party Adaptation in Power-Sharing Systems: Evidence From Malaysia.” Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1177/18681034231219460.
  18. Dodson, Elizabeth A, Nora Geary, and Ross C Brownson. “State Legislators’ Sources and Use of Information: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Policy.” Health Education Research, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cyv044.
  19. Dragu, Tiberiu, and Michael Laver. “Legislative Coalitions With Incomplete Information.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1608514114.
  20. Fahruddiana, Yosphia. “Implications of the Existence of Opposition Political Parties as Checks and Balances in the Implementation of Democracy.” Perfect Education Fairy, 2023. https://doi.org/10.56442/fairy.v1i1.166.
  21. Fionna, Ulla, and Dirk Tomsa. “Changing Patterns of Factionalism in Indonesia: From Principle to Patronage.” Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1177/1868103419896904.
  22. Freitas, Andréa. “Unboxing the Active Role of the Legislative Power in Brazil.” Brazilian Political Science Review, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1590/1981-38212016000200004.
  23. Gandhi, Jennifer. “Elections and Political Regimes.” Government and Opposition, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1017/gov.2015.11.
  24. Ganghof, Steffen. “Designing Democratic Constitutions: The Search for Optimality.” Politics and Governance, 2019. https://doi.org/10.17645/pag.v7i4.2239.
  25. Halim, Fajri. “Analysis of the Formation of Government Regulations as Separation of Powers in Indonesia.” Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Teknologi, 2024. https://doi.org/10.59141/jist.v5i2.901.
  26. Herman, Hershan Ray, Muhammad Ikhsan, and Ku Mohd Amir Yusof. “Navigating Party Loyalty and Party Hopping in Malaysia Through Nordin Salleh and Khaliq Mehtab’s Cases.” Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (Mjssh), 2023. https://doi.org/10.47405/mjssh.v8i10.2572.
  27. Indriyani, Santi. “Basic Principles of the Oversight Functions of the House of Representatives on Legislative Functions in Indonesia.” Nurani Jurnal Kajian Syari Ah Dan Masyarakat, 2022. https://doi.org/10.19109/nurani.v22i2.13113.
  28. Jamil, Achmad, and Eriyanto Eriyanto. “Social Media Communication: Content Analysis of Indonesian Parliament Instagram Account.” Jurnal Studi Komunikasi (Indonesian Journal of Communications Studies), 2021. https://doi.org/10.25139/jsk.v5i3.3807.
  29. Jian Ng, Jason Wei, Santha Vaithilingam, Grace H Y Lee, and Gary John Rangel. “Life Satisfaction and Incumbent Voting: Examining the Mediating Effect of Trust in Government.” Journal of Happiness Studies, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-022-00536-z.
  30. Johnson Kennedy, Posma Sariguna. “Accountability for the Implementation of State Finances (APBN) for the Covid-19 Pandemic Program and National Economic Recovery (PC-PEN) in the Fiscal Year 2020.” Asia Pacific Fraud Journal, 2022. https://doi.org/10.21532/apfjournal.v7i2.254.
  31. Kharel, Aswasthama Bhakta, and Abinav Acharya. “Centralized and Decentralized Federal System: A Comparative Analysis of Governance Structures and Policy Implementation.” Interdisciplinary Journal of Management and Social Sciences, 2023. https://doi.org/10.3126/ijmss.v4i2.57187.
  32. Kimura, Ehito, Ratri Istania, Afrimadona Afrimadona, Rafif Pamenang Imawan, and Dimas Ramadhan. “Authoritarian Nostalgia and Democratic Decline in Contemporary Indonesia.” Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1177/18681034241252452.
  33. Kolarzik, Nina, and Aram Terzyan. “The State of Human Rights and Political Freedoms in Belarus: Was the Crisis Inevitable?,” 2020. https://doi.org/10.47669/psprp-4-2020.
  34. Kurniawan, Wawan. “Pemerintahan Prabowo Berpotensi Koalisi Gemuk: Apa Jadinya Negara Tanpa Oposisi?” Jakarta, 2024. https://theconversation.com/pemerintahan-prabowo-berpotensi-koalisi-gemuk-apa-jadinya-negara-tanpa-oposisi-232926.
  35. Levitsky, Steven, and Lucan A Way. “The New Competitive Authoritarianism.” Journal of Democracy, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1353/jod.2020.0004.
  36. Lowande, Kenneth. “Who Polices the Administrative State?” American Political Science Review, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0003055418000497.
  37. Marzuki, Peter Mahmud. Penelitian Hukum. Revisi. Jakarta: Kencana Prenada Media Group, 2019.
  38. Masrur, Muhamad. “Political Conflict and Compromise in the Job Creation Bill Discussion.” International Journal of Social Science, 2024. https://doi.org/10.53625/ijss.v3i6.7637.
  39. Mazepus, Honorata, and Dimiter Toshkov. “Standing Up for Democracy? Explaining Citizens’ Support for Democratic Checks and Balances.” Comparative Political Studies, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1177/00104140211060285.
  40. Mendoza, Ronald U, Jurel Yap, Gabrielle Ann S. Mendoza, Angelika Lourdes J. Pizzaro, and Georgi Engelbrecht. “Political Dynasties and Terrorism: An Empirical Analysis Using Data on the Philippines.” Asian Journal of Peacebuilding, 2022. https://doi.org/10.18588/202210.00a266.
  41. Meyer, Renate E, Markus A Höllerer, and Stephan Leixnering. “A Question of Value(S): Political Connectedness and Executive Compensation in Public Sector Organizations.” International Public Management Journal, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1080/10967494.2015.1094162.
  42. Mietzner, Marcus. “Authoritarian Innovations in Indonesia: Electoral Narrowing, Identity Politics and Executive Illiberalism.” Democratization, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1080/13510347.2019.1704266.
  43. ———. “Coercing Loyalty: Coalitional Presidentialism and Party Politics in Jokowi’s Indonesia.” Contemporary Southeast Asia, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1355/cs38-2b.
  44. Minan, Ahsanul, Satya Arinanto, and Djohermansyah Djohan. “Local Chief Executive Political Accountability in Indonesia: A Historical-Legal Analysis.” Constitutional Review, 2024. https://doi.org/10.31078/consrev1012.
  45. Mohd Rosli, Rozaini Binti, and S M Abdul Quddus. “The Selangor State Assembly Oversight and Government Accountability (Pengawasan Dan Akauntabiliti Kerajaan Di Dewan Negeri Selangor).” Journal of Islam in Asia (E-Issn 2289-8077), 2020. https://doi.org/10.31436/jia.v17i4.916.
  46. Mukhtarova, Akbikesh. “Effects of Party System Fluidity on Legislative Oversight and Good Governance Indicators--in the Context of Sub-Saharan African Countries.” Current Research Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2020. https://doi.org/10.12944/crjssh.3.2.10.
  47. Muliawan, Laode, and Imam Sumantri. “Institutionalization of Political Parties on Post New Order Authoritarianism and It’s Implications for Indonesian Democracy.” Journal of Local Government Issues, 2020. https://doi.org/10.22219/logos.v3i2.12860.
  48. Nagy, Kristóf. “Remaking Civil Society Under Authoritarian Capitalism: The Case of the Orbán Regime’s Hungarian Academy of Arts.” Intersections, 2023. https://doi.org/10.17356/ieejsp.v9i4.1127.
  49. Niaz, Abdul Wahid. “Assessing Power Dynamics: Afghanistan’s Constitutional Framework of 2004.” Sprin Journal of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences, 2024. https://doi.org/10.55559/sjahss.v3i4.287.
  50. Nowlin, Matthew C. “Policy Learning and Information Processing.” Policy Studies Journal, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1111/psj.12397.
  51. Oktay, Sibel. “Chamber of Opportunities: Legislative Politics and Coalition Security Policy.” The British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1177/1369148117745680.
  52. Onderčo, Michal. “Parliamentarians in Government Delegations: An Old Question Still Not Answered.” Cooperation and Conflict, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1177/0010836717737571.
  53. Otjes, Simon, and Tom Louwerse. “Parliamentary Questions as Strategic Party Tools.” West European Politics, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1080/01402382.2017.1358936.
  54. Payán, Denise D, LaVonna B Lewis, Michael R Cousineau, and Michael B Nichol. “Advocacy Coalitions Involved in California’s Menu Labeling Policy Debate: Exploring Coalition Structure, Policy Beliefs, Resources, and Strategies.” Social Science & Medicine, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.01.036.
  55. Quein, Wihellmina, Riko Pambudi, Fitri Rohmadhanita, and Bagus Ramadi. “Impeachment in Indonesia’s Democracy System.” International Journal of Social Science and Human Research, 2023. https://doi.org/10.47191/ijsshr/v6-i1-07.
  56. Rahmawati, Restu, and Firman Firman. “The Ideological Coalition Model Is the Strategy for Strengthening Presidential Systems in Indonesia,” 2020. https://doi.org/10.4108/eai.23-11-2019.2301489.
  57. Ridlwan, Zulkarnain, and Enny Nurbaningsih. “Law Revision on Indonesian Parliament’s Oversight Function: Facing the Challenges of Democracy.” Kne Social Sciences, 2018. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v3i5.2356.
  58. Rinaldi, Chiara, and Marleen Bekker. “A Scoping Review of Populist Radical Right Parties’ Influence on Welfare Policy and Its Implications for Population Health in Europe.” International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 2020. https://doi.org/10.34172/ijhpm.2020.48.
  59. Romadlon, Suryo Gilang. “Implikasi Pergeseran Sistem Politik Terhadap Hukum Dan Birokrasi Di Indonesia.” Jurnal Konstitusi, 2016. https://doi.org/10.31078/jk1349.
  60. Seeberg, Henrik Bech. “The Impact of Opposition Criticism on the Public’s Evaluation of Government Competence.” Party Politics, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354068818792578.
  61. Seeberg, Merete Bech. “Electoral Authoritarianism and Economic Control.” International Political Science Review, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192512117692802.
  62. Silva, Thiago. “When Do Different Systems of Government Lead to Similar Power-Sharing? The Case of Government Formation.” Political Science Research and Methods, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1017/psrm.2022.20.
  63. Sunarto, Sunarto. “Prinsip Checks and Balances Dalam Sistem Ketatanegaraan Indonesia.” Masalah-Masalah Hukum, 2016. https://doi.org/10.14710/mmh.45.2.2016.157-163.
  64. Syifa Faujiah, Shofi Dwi, and Nurdin Nurdin. “Sistem Pemilu Dan Pembentukan Koalisi Minoritas Study Kasus Malaysia (Anwar Ibrahim).” Jurnal Syntax Admiration, 2024. https://doi.org/10.46799/jsa.v5i12.1645.
  65. Taufiqurrohman, Moch. Marsa. “Koalisi Partai Politik Dan Implikasinya Terhadap Sistem Presidensial Multipartai Di Indonesia.” Kertha Semaya Journal Ilmu Hukum, 2020. https://doi.org/10.24843/ks.2020.v09.i01.p12.
  66. Terzyan, Aram. “State-Building in Belarus: The Politics of Repression Under Lukashenko’s Rule,” 2019. https://doi.org/10.47669/psprp-2-2019.
  67. Vogel, Steven. “Market Governance as a Balance of Power.” Politics & Society, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1177/00323292231183834.
  68. Wartoyo, F X, and Teguh Prasetyo. “DPD Performance Implementation in the Supervision Function Based on the Dignity of Justice.” Mandalika, 2023. https://doi.org/10.56566/mandalika.v1i1.56.
  69. Widodo, Hananto. “Parameter Pengawasan Politik Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Republik Indonesia Menurut Undang-Undang Dasar Negara Republik Indonesia Tahun 1945.” Perspektif Hukum, 2019. https://doi.org/10.30649/phj.v19i2.207.
  70. Winengan, Winengan. “The Local Political Policies: The Dynamics of the Political Party Coalition in the Election Contestation of the Governor West Nusa Tenggara Province Indonesia.” International Journal of Criminology and Sociology, 2022. https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4409.2020.09.33.
  71. Yabancı, Bilge. “Turkey’s Tamed Civil Society: Containment and Appropriation Under a Competitive Authoritarian Regime.” Journal of Civil Society, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1080/17448689.2019.1668627.
Issue Vol. 11 No. 1 (2026): Jurnal Bina Mulia Hukum Volume 11 Number 1 September 2026

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Achmad Hariri, A. Basuki Babussalam, L.ya Esti Pratiwi

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.