An introduction to the differing forms of representative democracy.

1. AS Government and Politics Module 1 : People & Politics Unit 1.1 Democracy & Political Participation

2. Week 3. The difference between direct and representative forms of democracy and their strengths and weaknesses: Representative.

3. What is representative democracy? * = functional representation *

5. James Madison "The effect of [a representative democracy is] to refine and enlarge the public views, by passing them through the medium of a chosen body of citizens, whose wisdom may best discern the true interest of the nation...."

6. Historical evolution of rep. Dem. In the UK The “Rump Parliament” 1649 The Bill of Rights 1688 John Locke’s Treatises 1689 The Great reform Act 1832 Third reform act 1884 The first modern manifesto: Labour 1945

7. Edmund Burke Edmund Burke 1729 - 1797) was an Irish statesman, author, orator, political theorist, and philosopher who, after relocating to England, served for many years in the House of Commons of Great Britain as a member of the Whig party. He is mainly remembered for his support of the cause of the American Revolutionaries, and for his later opposition to the French Revolution. Burkean representation aka The Trustee model of representation In the trustee model of representation constituents elect their representatives as 'trustees' (or 'entrust' them) for their constituency. These 'trustees' have sufficient autonomy to deliberate and act in favour of the greater common good and national interest, even if it means going against the short-term interests of their own constituencies. The model provides a solution to the problem uninformed constituents who lack the necessary knowledge on issues to take an educated position. ( Contrast with Jefferson?) " his unbiased opinion, his mature judgment, his enlightened conscience, he ought not to sacrifice to you, to any man, or to any set of men living. ... Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion ".

8. Parliamentary representation The British Westminster system was not originally designed for political parties, and some of the greatest early prime ministers, like Pitt the Younger , are well-known to have detested its developing partisan nature. The parties are officially registered, but their role in parliament is not officially recognised: the electorate votes for members of parliament, who officially merely happen to be generally party-aligned. The parties can be seen as accidental collections of members of parliament who generally vote the same way, but this system is not built into parliamentary law. However, unlike the American system, there is a much stronger relationship between the party structure and their arrangement in government - the party leader is usually the prime ministerial candidate at each election, and even opposition parties have 'shadow ministers' (declaring the role in government they would have were their party in power) - an arrangement possible since the prime minister, unlike a president, is not head of state but just first among equals in parliament, with a role of head of the executive only officially recognised as late as 1905.