Representation at home. Conceptions and behaviors of Members of the German Bundestag in their district work

• Published in: Zeitschrift für Parlamentsfragen 2013-01, Vol.44 (3), p.486-506
• Main Author: Siefken, Sven T
• Format: Article
• Language: ger
• Subjects: Communication; Districts; Elections; Electoral College; Germany; Nomination; Political Campaigns; Political Systems; Telecommunications Policy
• ISSN: 0340-1758

Four central characteristics highlight the particular functional importance of electoral districts in the political system of Germany: First, districts are the organizational units through which direct mandates for the Bundestag are elected (election). Second -- prior to the elections -- this is where the MP candidates are nominated through local party conventions (nomination). Third, districts are an important source for specialist and everyday knowledge that can be used by the MPs in their parliamentary work (information). Fourth, they are a place of political communication, where the represented and the representatives interact (communication). Various expectations about the MPs' work result from these functional roles of the electoral districts in the German political system; i.e. the certain event type, the content of communication (policy or politics), the use of various communication channels (old and new media), role behavior and the influence of external factors such as the type of mandate (direct or list) or properties concerning the district itself. All of these aspects are investigated concerning the MPs work in their electoral districts based on observation and interview data gathered in the CITREP project between 2011 and 2012. Similarities and differences in comparison to previous research results are highlighted, thereby providing an overview of empirical knowledge on MP's everyday district work outside of election campaigns. Adapted from the source document.