What is representation?

Enquiry Question: How do senators and

representatives fulfil their representative role?
 Learning Outcomes
• To analyse the different models of representation
• To explain what influences the voting of members of
congress
• To evaluate the extent to which members of
Congress prioritise local interests over national
interests
Representation
• This term can be
used in a number
of different ways.
• Representation
can be
understood in
terms of how
legislators
represent their
constituents.
• In this sense there
are four different
models of
representation.
 Models of Representation
Trustee Delegate Mandate Resemblance
Model Model Model Model
The representative Constituents elect Constituents elect This model
acts as the person their representatives their focuses on who
who is vested with as delegates for their representatives and represents the
formal responsibility constituency. consequently electorate, and
for the affairs of Essentially, the provide them with a considers how
others. representative acts mandate to carry representative
Such representation is as the voice of those out certain policies legislators are in
based upon the who are (literally) that they have terms of such
considered judgement not present. campaigned on. factors as gender
of the legislator. and race.
The elected
representative is
‘trusted’ to make the
right judgement.
 Learning Outcomes
• To analyse the different models of representation
• To explain what influences the voting of members of
congress
• To evaluate the extent to which members of
Congress prioritise local interests over national
interests
YOUR TASK:
• Read the
handout
“How
Members
Decide to
Vote”.
• Watch
video: Crash
Course –
Congressional
Decisions
How do members of Congress decide to vote?
Political Party
• Can be the most
important factor – ‘party
votes’ on contentious
issues.
• Parties have few
punishments/incentives
to offer members.
• Party labels don’t always
mean whole party voting
together (regional
ideologies).
• Internal party groups e.g.
Blue Dog Democrats
How do members of Congress decide to vote?
Constituents
Constituents
• Trustee model of representation
• “folks back home”, “locality rule”
• Failing to look after/represent constituents can result in
electoral defeat
• Phone, email, local news, visits, letters from constituents
• Regular visits “home” for party/town hall meetings,
‘surgeries’, local TV and radio, interviews with local media,
addressing groups, visiting schools, hospitals etc.
• Views of constituents = divided (discontented v content =
representative?)
• (National good + local popularity + electoral benefit) of
policies to balance
How do members of Congress decide to vote?
The Administration
• Members of the executive
branch including POTUS,
VPOTUS, cabinet members
etc.
• Legislation initiated by the
administration – keen
interest so in touch with
members/committees to
influence votes
• Two way street of
cooperation
• Supporting unpopular
legislation/administration
can be costly
How do members of Congress decide to vote?
Pressure Groups
• Try to influence members
and votes
• Direct contact with members
• Attempt to generate public
support
• Phone calls, make visits
• Provide evidence to
committees
• Organise rallies,
demonstrations and
petitions
• Fundraising and campaigning
• Campaign donations
How do members of Congress decide to vote?
Colleagues and Staff
• Huge number of votes –
impossible to be an
expert on all issues and
policies
• Reliance on others for
help
• Colleagues – same party,
same philosophy, same
views – ‘mentors’, advice,
suggestions
• Senior staff – chief of
staff or legislative
director
 How do members of Congress decide to vote?
Personal Beliefs
• Applicable on certain votes – usually abortion, capital punishment etc.
• Generally members personal beliefs are similar to the majority of their
constituents especially if a member adopts a trustee or mandate
model of representation
How do members of Congress decide to vote?

Political Party Discussion Questions:

• To what extent does
Constituents each factor affect
how a Member of
The administration Congress votes?
• Can you identify a
Pressure Groups single “deciding
factor”?
Colleagues and Staff • How do members
balance all of these
Personal Beliefs factors?
 Learning Outcomes
• To analyse the different models of representation
• To explain what influences the voting of members of
congress
• To evaluate the extent to which members of
Congress prioritise local interests over national
interests
Members of Congress are more concerned with
local issues than national or international
issues.
 Members of Congress are more concerned with local issues
than national or international issues.
Arguments for Arguments against

• Elections every two years that mean
that members of Congress have to
demonstrate that their term has been
productive to the community they
serve.
[Find example]
• This leads to pork barrel politics.
[Find example]
• That debates for elections tend to be
on local issues.
[Find example]
• When members of Congress vote
they do so bearing their constituents
in mind above all others.
[Find example]
• The oversight of foreign policy and
the implementation of federal law
[Find example]
• Congressional elections have
become increasingly ideological in
character, reducing the importance of
appealing mainly to local concerns.
[Find example]
YOUR TASK: Find
examples to illustrate
these arguments.
Assess the factors that influence the
votes of members of Congress. (15)
 Assess the factors that influence
the votes of members of Congress.
KNOWLEDGE:
• The differences between the House and the Senate
• Voting records
• Case studies of legislation such as health care reform
• Concepts such as the “folks back home”, the pork barrel, log rolling,
earmarking
• The role of committees in the legislative process
• Congressional liaison from the White House
• The role of party and Congressional leadership
• The impact of caucus groups
• The role played by pressure groups
• Examples of conscience issues and individual ideological perspectives
such as Ron Paul’s libertarianism.
 Assess the factors that influence
the votes of members of Congress.
ANALYSIS & EVALUATION:
• Candidates should identify a range of factors and attempt to rank their relative
importance.
• Candidates are likely to consider the relative weakness of parties, although this can be
contrasted with reference to increased partisanship in Congress in recent times.
• Case studies such as health care reform may be used to illustrate the role played by
pressure groups and the divide between Congress and the presidency.
• Candidate-centred campaigns, the two year term of the House and discussion of the
notion that “all politics is local” may also feature.
• This might be linked to name recognition and constituency links from the congressional
office.
• At the top of level 3, candidates will not only list a range of factors which influence voting
in Congress but attempt to evaluate or rank their relative significance.
• Better candidates will make reference to contemporary developments to illustrate their
answers and may make some attempt to consider the extent to which Congress serves the
minority rather than the public interest.
 Which is more important –
the House or the Senate? (15)
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 Examiner Advice
• This is a straightforward question; it offered candidates few opportunities to trip themselves up, and
most could cover three or four factors with some measure of credible evidence.
• That said, a small number took it to be a unit 3 question, and focused on factors influencing voters
when they vote for congressional candidates, rather than the factors which influence the members
of Congress themselves.
• The most commonly cited factors were pressure groups, party loyalty, district or state interests and
presidential persuasion; a number of candidates discussed personal beliefs as an influence, but they
often found it difficult to separate it from other factors, or give a convincing example; Democratic
support for the Stupak-Pitts amendment might be considered to be one.
• As was true for all questions, the strongest answers not only presented three or four factors but
could also assess the extent of their influence.
• This could be done in a number of ways, for example looking at the extent to which the influence of a
factor has changed over time (the growth of partisanship was often discussed in this way),
comparing different factors to show which was more important, or comparing different policy issues
or political scenarios, to show how different factors may be more or less important in different
situations.
• The recent Senate vote on the Manchin-Toomey amendment provided a good example of the
tension between party and state loyalties.
• Most answers focused on voting on legislation, but some made rewardable reference to Senate votes
on Supreme Court nominees, which certainly provided evidence of increasing partisanship.
 Learning Outcomes
• To analyse the different models of representation
• To explain what influences the voting of members of
congress
• To evaluate the extent to which members of
Congress prioritise local interests over national
interests
 Fun Facts: Members of Congress
• Nancy Pelosi
• John McCain
• Mitch McConnell
• Dianne Feinstein
• Paul Ryan
• Bernie Sanders
You have 5 minutes to find as many • Al Franken
fun facts as possible about one of • Tammy Baldwin
these high profile Members of
Congres. • Rand Paul
 Homework
Application Task:
Assess the factors that influence the votes of
members of Congress. (15)
Flipped Learning Preparation Task:
The Changing Significance of Parties in Congress
(Pearson p355-358)
Stretch & Challenge Task
Article: The Weirdest Members of Congress