Representative Democracy

Term Paper # 101221

Political Science

This paper explores whether democratic representatives truly represent their voters.

928 words () | 5 sources | MLA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper defines representative democracy as having representatives that will act in accordance with the needs of the people or different groups. The writer discusses different forms of representation and disagrees with majority-minority districts, believing it is more important to have representatives who represent different classes of people. The paper explains that, whether due to their conscience, their opinion on a topic, or because they feel the decision is wrong for the people, not all representatives act in accordance with the needs of the people or the groups that they represent.

From the Paper:

"Does a representative have to share the demographic characteristics of the majority of the constituency? While most people might believe they do, the fact is that they do not. A representative of the people "may" vote differently than what the people want nor does the representative have to vote the way the people want if they believe it is not in the best interest of the people. Representatives may claim to be on the side of the people and even agree with different groups that represent the people, but they may choose not to vote the way the public believes they will vote. Madison tells how representatives often betray the people by voting the way they believe is right or in their own interest, they "pretend to be champions for the right and the capacity to choose their own rulers, yet maintain that they will prefer those only who will immediately and infallibly betray the trust committed to them" (321)."