Representative

• Representative democracy:

  * a form of democracy in which voters elects representatives to make political decisions on their behalf.

  • representatives are then held accountable to the public in regular elections.
• First past the post - MP needs highest amount of vote within the constituency.
• Party (mandates) representation:

  • 99% of MPs belong to a party or have a mandate vote.
  • Have to follow policies of your party.
  • Representatives vote according to the 'party line', supporting or opposing as your party suggests.
• Delegate representation:

  Representative votes according to the wishes or direction of his or her constitutents.
• 'Burkean' representation

  "your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgement and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion"

  • Based off of Edmund Burke
• for:

  • its a lot easier and quicker to do
  • the MP elected to represent is a lot better educated then certain members of the public
• against:

  • public may not feel listened to as they aren't directly involved
  • May not have wanted/ not feel comfortable with that MP representing them