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An elected official who is entrusted to act in the best interests of the electorate based on his or her knowledge; he or she is understood to be generally better informed than the broader electorate.
Trustee
President is part of a different party than majority of one of both chambers.
Divided government
Elected body should mirror the population demographically
Descriptive Representation
Laws written and enacted by a legislative body, such as Congress or state legislatures.
Statutory laws
Funding for political campaigns, often from special interests.
Campaign Finance
Permanent committee focused on specific policy areas.
Standing Committee
The Senate’s constitutional power to review and approve treaties and presidential appointments.
Advice and Consent
Temporary committee for specific issues or problems.
Select Committee
Population count every ten years for representation.
Census
The relationship between an elected official and the electorate.
Theories of Representation
An elected official who acts as an agent of the majority that elected her or him to office and carries out, to the extent possible, the wishes of the majority.
Delegate
Statements recorded along with signed legislation clarifying the president’s understanding of the constitutionality of the bill.
Power of signing statements
Districts drawn to enhance minority representation.
Racial Gerrymandering
Basic laws set in place that outline our responsibilities as citizens.
Substantive laws
Increased ideological distance between parties.
Political Polarization
Determines debate limits for bills in Congress.
Rules Committee
The representation of the interest group thorough policy-making/ Congressional work to advance the issues and ideological preferences of constituent.
Policy Representation
Steps a bill takes to become law.
Legislative Process
Tradition where senators defer to the preferences of the senators from the state where a judicial nominee resides.
Senatorial courtesy
The creation of policy to address the problems and needs of the entire nation.
Lawmaking
Reallocation of congressional seats every ten years.
Reapportionment
The distribution of government resources to benefit constituents. Congressional work to secure projects, services, and funds for the represented district
Allocative Representation
Citizen dissatisfaction with Congress's effectiveness.
Public Discontent
Orders a lower court to deliver its record in a case so that the higher court may review it.
Writ of certiorari
The efforts by elected officials to look out for the interests of those who elect them.
Representation