Constituency influence and representation

In their classic study “Constituency Influence in Congress”, Miller and Stokes (1966)equated representation with responsiveness to constituent opinion. But when constituents are uncertain about the effects of policies and when they may come to favor a policy which they opposed before its implementat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Electoral studies 1998-09, Vol.17 (3), p.351-367
Main Author: Stokes, Susan C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Constituencies
Constituency
Donald E. Stokes
Economic policy
Economic reform
Influence
Latin America
Latin American politics
Political representation
Public opinion
PUBLIC POLICY
Representation
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Summary:In their classic study “Constituency Influence in Congress”, Miller and Stokes (1966)equated representation with responsiveness to constituent opinion. But when constituents are uncertain about the effects of policies and when they may come to favor a policy which they opposed before its implementation, politicians may represent constitutent's interests even though they are unresponsive to their ex ante preferences. Several Latin American governments that switched to unpopular policies early in their terms did so because they thought citizens were ill-informed and their preferences would change. Even though we should consider such policy switches as carried out by governments that are attempting to represent, we should not return to a Burkean ideal whereby legislators do what they deem best regardless of the will of their constituents.
ISSN:0261-3794
1873-6890
DOI:10.1016/S0261-3794(98)00034-1