This  book developed out of an assessment of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), and of the assistance provided to it by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) between 1996 and 2004. Drawing on extensive interviews with PLC members and staff, as well as with other stakeholders, the book is in four sections, namely Part One - The PLC's Multiple Roles; Part Two - PLC Capacities and the Impacts of USAID Assistance; Part Three - Lessons Learned; Part Four: Recommendations; plus Partial List of Persons Interviewed; Bibliography and Index.