Representing The People: A Survey Among Members Of Statewide And Substate Parliaments University Press Scholarship Online

La 4e de couverture indique : "Modern democracy is organized as a representative democracy in which those representing the people are elected to office. Political parties play a crucial role in this. They select the candidates, form or oppose governments, and organize the work of the representatives in parliament. This model of democracy is however being criticized. Parties are hardly trusted and voters have become volatile. How, then, do elected representatives of the people see and fulfil their role? To study this a survey was organized among the members of statewide and sub-state parliaments in fifteen countries. Members of seventy-three parliamentary assemblies were asked how they perceive their representative role, what they do to keep in touch with voters, how they behave and vote in parliament and how they will try to get re-elected. One of the ways in which candidates and elected members of parliament might react to the changing conditions in which they have to represent the people is by stressing more personal characteristics as opposed to the party label and party ideology. Representation might then become more a matter of personal choice. The results of the survey presented in this book do however confirm quite strongly that representation is very much shaped by the political institutions in which it is performed. Representation differs between countries, between different electoral systems, between statewide and regional parliaments, and depends strongly on the party to which a member of parliament belongs. Representation depends not as much on who the representatives are, as on where they are." Modern Democracy Is Organized As A Representative Democracy In Which Those Representing The People Are Elected To Their Office. Political Parties Play A Crucial Role In This. They Select The Candidates, Form Or Oppose Governments, And Organize The Work Of The Representatives In Parliament. This Model Of Democracy Is However Being Criticized. Parties Are Hardly Trusted And Voters Have Become Very Volatile. One Wonders Then How Elected Representatives Of The People See And Fulfil Their Role. In Order To Study This, A Survey Was Organized Among The Members Of Statewide And Substate Parliament In Fifteen Countries. Members Of 73 Parliamentary Assemblies Were Asked How They Perceive Their Representative Role, What They Do To Keep In Touch With Voters And How They Behave And Vote In Parliament And How They Will Try To Be Re-elected. One Of The Ways In Which Candidates And Elected Members Of Parliament Might React To The Changing Conditions In Which They Have To Represent The People Is By Stressing More Personal Characteristics As Opposed To The Party Label And Party Ideology. Representation Might Become More A Matter Of Personal Choice. The Results Of The Survey Presented In This Book Do However Confirm Quite Strongly That Representation Is Very Much Shaped By The Political Institutions In Which It Is Performed. Representation Therefore Differs Between Countries, Between Different Electoral Systems, Between Statewide And Regional Parliaments, And Depends Also Strongly On The Party To Which A Member Of Parliament Belongs. Representation Does Not Depend As Much On Who The Representatives Are, As On Where They Are.--publisher's Website. Machine Generated Contents Note: 1.representing The People In Parliaments / Audrey Andre -- 2.representational Roles / Bernhard Webels -- 3.the Representation Of Old And New Groups / Bram Wauters -- 4.from Agency To Institutions And Back: Comparing Legislators' Acting On Behalf Of Women In Parliamentary Democracies / Karen Celis -- 5.electoral Rules And Legislators' Personal Vote-seeking / Zsofia Papp -- 6.agreement, Loyalty, And Discipline: A Sequential Approach To Party Unity / Rudy B. Andeweg -- 7.mps' Inter-party Contacts And The Operation Of Party Democracy / Gabriella Ilonszki -- 8.legislators' Constituency Orientation / Giulia Sandri -- 9.do The Media Set The Agenda Of Parliament Or Is It The Other Way Around? Agenda Interactions Between Mps And Mass Media / Dag Arne Christensen -- 10.career Patterns In Multilevel Systems / Luca Verzichelli -- 11.the Institutional Constraints Of Representation / Sam Depauw. Edited By Kris Deschouwer And Sam Depauw. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE Series Copyright Acknowledgements Contents List of Figures List of Tables List of Contributors 1 Representing the People in Parliaments 2 Representational Roles 3 The Representation of Old and New Groups 4 From Agency to Institutions and Back: Comparing Legislators’ Acting on Behalf of Women in Parliamentary Democracies 5 Electoral Rules and Legislators’ Personal Vote-seeking 6 Agreement, Loyalty, and Discipline: A Sequential Approach to Party Unity 7 MPs’ Inter-party Contacts and the Operation of Party Democracy 8 Legislators’ Constituency Orientation 9 Do the Media Set the Agenda of Parliament or Is It the Other Way Around? Agenda Interactions between MPs and Mass Media 10 Career Patterns in Multilevel Systems 11 The Institutional Constraints of Representation Appendix partirep MP Survey Questionnaire Index