Members of Congress often face various pressures as they look to guide policy that will drive the nation's future. These pressures often push the members in contradictory directions and can make their political lives difficult. You will now look at these pressures and evaluate how members weight these competing interests and make decisions. To properly accomplish this assignment, please complete the following tasks...1) Analyze the competing representative models that can be followed by members of Congress.
2) Evaluate the forces that exert pressure on the members.
3) Evaluate the feelings and arguments of Edmund Burke on this issue.
4) Finally, explain what representative model is proper in your personal opinion.
Remember that all these tasks should be completed in a holistic answer and not composed as individual answers to isolated questions.
There are two different types of representative models that members of Congress may choose to follow, but according to Burke, they are often contradictory. It is the member’s duty to take their constituents’ opinions into mind, but it may contradict their own beliefs. The model in which the members vote on their constituents opinions is called being a delegate, which should be more common than a trustee. When members vote on their own beliefs, they are called a trustee.
ReplyDeleteSeveral different factors can influence a member’s vote and which model they choose to follow also. Close friends of members, called colleagues, often give Congress members advice. This can affect the way a member votes. Similar to colleagues is congressional staff, which helps the members and can help them represent their constituents better. Constituents play a huge role with determining a members vote, and members often vote in favor of their constituents to be sure of reelection. If they do so, they would be a delegate. If a member votes on his or her own experiences and beliefs, or convictions, they would be known as a trustee. Interest groups, political parties, and the President all play vital roles in influencing members’ votes as well.
Although there are several things that affect which model a member may follow, there are also some downfalls choosing one or the other. If members choose one over the other, someone is going to be unhappy. If they choose to be a delegate, the constituents are happy, but the member may be voting against what they truly believe in. But if they vote for themselves, constituents will be upset and possibly not reelect the member. This is why it is hard for members to choose which model they wish to follow. They contradict each other more than they should.
Of the two models, being a delegate is the better option. If the goal in Congress is to be reelected, it is important to get support from the people who will be voting for you, the constituents. To get this support it is a good idea to represent them as best as possible, and vote based on their opinions. There is going to be a mixture of the two models also, depending on the issue. But it is always best to vote bed on their constituents as much as possible.
Congress, as a whole, is a representing institution and it tries to pass legislation that will benefit the nation, while also benefiting the constituents’ needs as well. On one hand it is a lawmaking institution, writing laws and making policy for the entire nation. On the other it is a representative assembly, made up of 535 members who serve as links between their constituents and the national government.
ReplyDeleteMaking legislative decisions causes many pressures for Congress members. Questions they have to ask themselves are: How will I vote? Is this what my constituents would want? Members are influenced on how they make their decisions by the views of their colleagues and wishes of the president. Sometimes a member will vote a certain way with a colleague in mind thinking that colleague will later vote with them in mind, this is called logrolling. Interest groups and their own experiences also play a role in how members will vote on certain legislation.
Representing the nation as a whole is important but when looking for reelection and the Congress member has ignored their constituents, it could cost them their job. By focusing on the constituents, policy in only one district is being affected. When policy decisions are made with the whole country in mind the, whole country can benefit. Dividing the lawmaking institution and the representative assembly Congress is split. These areas should come together to make policy for the whole nation in mind. At the same time policy for individual districts would not be ignored.
There are two very opposite ways for member of Congress to vote. They can be a delegate or they can be a trustee. Being a delegate means that the member of Congress votes with the constituents views in mind. They are expected to honor what the voters think on an issue and vote with their constituents. Sometimes they may have differing view, but they will still vote with the constituents. A member of congress can also be a trustee. This means that they vote with only their own views in mind. They do not honor their constituents and vote independently based on their own judgment. There are many things that can pressure the members of Congress. Their constituents, the members of their parties, their own friends, the congressional staff, their own beliefs and experiences and interest groups can all affect the way a member of Congress votes. Anyone that they are around can really try and pressure them. Friends usually have similar ideas, so they may go to them for help. The members of Congress depend on the congressional staff to feed them info on the bills. They want to favor the constituent’s views because they want to get re-elected. Their past experience can make them decide to vote one way or another. Members of Congress have an obligation to vote with interest groups. Interest groups can help them get elected and can provide them with funding. They are members of the parties and should vote with the party or they may lose support from the party in the future. Another person that can pressure the members of Congress is the presidents. The presidents always want their views represented, so they will pressure members of Congress to vote with them. Burke thinks that all members of Congress, or Parliament in this case should be trustees. He recognizes the differing opinion of many of his constituents and respects that opinion. As Burke says though “your Representative owes you,” by this he mean that the voters elected the Representative and now it is there turn to give back. The Representative represents the people’s opinions and that should be enough for the people. He thinks that his judgment is enough and should be respected. He is the one in Parliament and he is the one that should be able to vote as he desires. After reading what Burke had to say, his opinion is right. If I were to sit on Congress I would have the right to vote as I want. The people electing me are enough and now it is my turn to represent their views in Congress. They may not know both sides to an issue. I have the ability to hear both sides and make an adequate decision on the issue.
ReplyDeleteMembers of Congress represent their constituents in several different ways. There are three models used to show how members are representative. The trustee model shows that a Congress member votes the way they want to vote and not always the way their constituencies want them to vote. The member believes that the voters trust their judgment and trust the vote that they give. The delegate model shows that a Congress member votes exactly the way their constituencies want them to vote even if it is different from their own views. This model is the most democratic and representative. Edmund Burke believes this is the way members should vote. He says that the people elect members to represent them and members should respect the beliefs of their constituencies. Burke says that man should not sacrifice his opinion but he also needs to seriously consider constituents’ opinions. The third model is called politico. It shows members using both the trustee and delegate model to represent their constituencies. Members will vote the way their constituencies want them to on some issues and will vote the way they think best on other issues.
ReplyDeleteThe delegate model is the most democratic and representative model. The voters vote for Congress members to represent their views in Congress. The member’s job is to help their constituencies even if it goes against their personal believes. Constituencies want members to help their districts and not just go to Congress and forget about why they were elected. The voters want their Congress members to vote for the policies and bills that will help them and not for just want the members want. The delegate model is what is best for constituencies.
Congress members are influenced by many different factors when making their choices and deciding how they want to represent their constituencies. Members often look to other members for advice. A member can be influenced by what another member tells them and may even vote like another member just to get that member’s vote on another bill. Congress members have become more dependent on their staff. This has increased Congress’s role in the public policy process. Most members will vote the way their constituencies want them to in order to be more likely to win reelection and keep the voters happy with them. Ideology is a major influence in Congress. Members will vote on a bill by the way they feel about it and their opinions of it. Interest groups and Congress work together to get what they want. Interest groups provide members with money and information and in turn members give the groups policies they want. Members also have party and presidential pressure. There are many factors that pressure members to vote one way or the other.
Being a member of Congress is a full-time job full of tough decisions that need to be made. Members of Congress are often placed in complicated positions when they are asked to make a decision that could affect both the country and their district they represent. Individual members of Congress perceive their roles differently. Some believe they should serve as delegates, an official who is expected to represent the views of his or her constituents even when personally holding different views. Other members believe they should serve as a trustee, an official who is expected to vote independently based on his or her judgement of the circumstances. Research shows that most delegates vote independently, due to the fact that about 50 percent of citizens do not know how their representative votes. Representatives struggle with these roles, mainly due to the pressure that is placed on them by others.
ReplyDeleteRepresentative are pressured by many groups. Their staff, colleagues, constituents, convictions, interest groups, their party and even the president pressures a representative to vote a certain way in Congress. The most influential of all of these are the representative’s constituents and their political party. Members of Congress rarely vote against the strong wishes of their constituents. The members are generally concerned about how they will explain their votes, especially on election day. As for the representatives political party, members generally vote with their party. This is due to party pressure, as well as natural affinity. Partisan voting has increased in the House since the early 1970s and has intensified even more since the 1994 elections. Members of both parties have become more loyal over the past 30 years, in part because each party has become more liberal or conservative.
Political theorist Edmund Burke believes that it is the duty of a representative to do just that, represent the people. Burke say, “Their wishes ought to have great weight with him. It is his duty to prefer their interest to his own.” Burke believes that the constituents’ values and wishes should come before those of the representative. In agreeing with Edmund Burke, a representative should place the constituents’ interests before his own. The people elected the representative into Congress, therefore he or she should vote the way their district or state wants them to. However, sometimes the people fail to see long-term effects of a vote that seems negative on the surface. Thus, a representative must balance the effects of the nation with the effects of their district or state they represent. This explains the various pressures members of Congress face as they are faced with decisions and votes that will affect the nation’s future.
A member of congress can follow one of two ways as a representative. One way is a Trustee, and the other is a delegate. A trustee acts and votes according to their own view of what is best for their district, state and the nation. A delegate believes it is their duty to find out what their constituents want and act accordingly. Some legislators shift back and forth between the two roles of a trustee and a delegate depending on their perception of public interest, their standing in the last and next elections and the pressures of the moment. Members of congress have pressures coming from many areas such as colleagues, congressional staff, constituents, party, convictions and interest groups. Members are most affected by their constituents and rarely vote against the strong wishes of their constituents. Ideology is closely related to party as a predictor of congressional voting. Members of congress are often influences by their own personal experiences. Interest groups can influence the legislative process by making contributions to congressional campaigns, testifying before committees and providing information to legislative staff. Members generally vote with their party due to party pressure and natural affinity.
ReplyDeleteEdmund Burke argued that a member should have high respect for their constituent’s opinions. Edmund also said that it was his duty to sacrifice his response, his pleasures and his satisfactions to theirs. Edmund Burke would be considered a delegate. The Delegate model is the proper way for a representative to answer his constituents. A Delegate is an official who is expect to represent his or her constituents even when holding other personal views. The delegate model is correct for a democracy, which is government for the people. This model is representing what the people have asked for and a member of congress acting accordingly.
be a trustee or to be a delegate, that is the question. Congressmen must decide which side to stand on when making their vote. Should they be a delegate and represent the views of his or her constituents even when personally holding different views, or be on the other side of the fence and be a trustee, an official who is expected to vote independently based on his or her judgment of the circumstances. Congressmen seem to have very opposite views about this and many sit on both sides. Maybe it’s hard for the congressman to share the same idea when put under all of the pressure they are given.
ReplyDeleteCongressmen are always under a microscope consumed by outside pressures on how they should vote. Pressure comes from everywhere. Pressure comes from their very own colleagues, congressional staff, of course constituents, convictions, interest groups, their very own party and even the president. Pressure comes from ones colleague because they depend on like-minded colleagues (just as we listen to our friends when we have problems), or by logrolling, in other words, you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. Staffs put the pressure one because they are always around helping the congress man out, their ideas can be easy shared because of so much contact with each other. Congressman have to go through major pressure from constituents because like any politician they want to be reelected, make the people happy and you won’t have worry about losing your next upcoming race. Then they have the pressure of their past and how they feel about issues, what they feel is right but yet everyone else is trying to tell him to go the other way. Interest groups cause pressure because you want to please them so you can get some money for campaigns, so the pressure is who to please, people who vote me in or please the ones who pay for my campaign (campaigns are very expensive). The party wants you to vote their way just because hey your one of them so they will be bugging you to vote their way and finally the president, if the president ask you for something you must be superman to not feel any pressure on you. And finally with all these on your back you must think, should I vote for them or vote because its right or wrong. A lot to consider just for a single vote.
Now Political theorist Edmund Burke feels that the congress man should vote as a delegate, vote for the people. He believes that the American people’s ideas and wants should out way any other factor. I agree with Mr. Burke, the American people voted for a congressman to represent them, not himself. Congressman need to represent their voters. I feel that a congressman should ignore his views and go with the majority. The views of the average congressman just don’t match up with the average American. The average American is not a 60 year old catholic man so their views wont match, therefor they need to vote for the voters.
To be a delegate or to be a trustee, that is the question when it comes to members of Congress. Delegates mainly focus on making policy based on the views of their constituents. A trustee, on the other hand, is expected to vote independently using his or her own judgement of the situation. The problem members of Congress face is deciding which one they are going to be. The representative could either focus on pleasing their own state or district, or they could focus on making policy that agrees with their personal views. These two roles are conflicting, yet members of Congress are expected to serve as both.
ReplyDeleteHow are members of Congress expected to be both a delegate and a trustee? The answer is simple. Several groups of people all expect different things from Congress members. Personal friends, or colleagues, often try to influence Congress members to vote one way or another on a piece of legislation. A Congress member's own personal experiences can also sway them towards either side of an issue. Constituents and interest groups are possible the most demanding groups that representatives must answer to. Interest groups, especially single-interest groups, can be very demanding when it comes to a legislator's vote on an issue. Not only that, but the group can either promise financial aid to the Congress member or threaten to take it away in the next campaign.
Constituents may not always be the most politically educated people, but their opinion is vital to a Congressperson's success. Edmund Burke's opinion on the role of members of Congress is likely that of the average citizen's. He firmly expressed his opinion that a Congressperson's job is solely to represent his or her constituents, and make legislation that is beneficial to them. Congress members usually try to represent their constituency best on issues that are important to that constituency. For example, a Senator from Iowa whose constituency is mainly farmers is going to try to pass legislation beneficial to the farmers. However, the same Senator may use their own political ideology to decide how to vote on issues that their constituency doesn't focus on, such as defense spending.
A proper Congressperson would maintain qualities of both a trustee and a delegate. While sticking to Burke's view on issues that the constituency feels are important, the members of Congress gain qualities of delegates. However, there are many issues which the public is not well informed enough on to make a coherent decision. In cases such as these, it is perfectly rational for the politically knowledgeable representative to make their own decision. This decision should benefit both the constituency and nation as a whole, but because the constituency had to trust in the representative to make the decision, he or she must also possess qualities of a trustee.
Members of Congress are often placed in complicated positions when they are asked to make a decision that could affect both the country and their district they represent. However, individual members of Congress perceive their roles differently. Some believe they should serve as delegates from their districts, other members see their role as a trustee. Delegates tend to believe that their duty is to represent the views of their constituents. Whether or not delegates view differently than their constituents, they still act accordingly. While trustees believe differently, they tend to vote accordingly to personal views.
ReplyDeleteMembers of Congress are often influenced by various things. Including; their constituents, staff members, convictions, their party, the president, and interest groups. Legislatures are often influenced by the advice of their close friends in Congress. Legislators find out how their friends stand on an issue, listen to the party leadership’s advice, and take the various committee reports into account. A member may also vote with a colleague in the expectation that the colleague will later vote for a measure about which the member is concerned, referred to as logrolling.
Members of Congress are influenced by their own experience and attitudes about the role of Government. Interest groups influence the legislative process in many ways. They make contributions to congressional campaigns, testify before committees, provide information to legislative staff, and build public pressure for or against their cause. Members generally vote with their party. This is usually a result of party pressure or natural affinity. Partisan voting and party-line voting have both increased lately. Even President’s pressure members of Congress to vote for them, they want their views represented.
Edmund Burke represents his feelings by saying, “Their wishes ought to have great weight with him. It is his duty to prefer their interest to his own.” Burke argues that the constituents elect the Representative into office; therefore, in return the representative must represent the people views rather than personal thoughts. In agreement, the representative’s responsibility is to simply represent the people as a whole. The constituent’s values and wishes should come before those of the representative. However, everyone is intended to the right to vote as one desires. Your opinion on this matter would determine your role in Congress. Whether you’re a trustee or a delegate, your decision affects both the country and the district you represent.
In one model that a member of Congress can use for representation, they can choose to be a delegate for their constituents. In such an instance, their law-making decisions would be based of the demographic beliefs of their constituents. For instance, if a certain population that the member of Congress represents feels one way about an issue, the member of Congress would most likely base their decision of the wishes of its constituents. On the other hand, a member of Congress can choose to be a trustee for their constituents. Contrary to using the delegate method, this person would make the majority of their law-making decisions based on what they feel is right. Since their constituents elected them in to office, they feel that they trust them enough to make the right decision when it comes to a policy.
ReplyDeleteThere is much pressure on the members of Congress when they have to make a decision on a policy. One force, influence by their friends or colleagues, is especially powerful when it comes down to how they are going to vote. If someone who they respect chooses to vote one way, they could be persuaded to vote such a way too. On the other hand, if someone they dislike votes one way, they might vote the opposite way. A source of information can also put pressure on a member of Congress. Members of Congress have a large staff to keep them updated on information and some bias is rubbed of onto the members of Congress themselves. They receive pressure from their constituents as they choose whether or not they will receive reelection. When making a vote, they must keep the beliefs of the constituents in mind. Party alignment puts a significant amount of pressure on their decisions as one’s values determine the way they will choose to act on a problem. Since interest groups tend to assist extensively in congressional campaigns, their beliefs pressure members of Congress to decide with them. If the party of a member of Congress votes one way, they will most likely be pressured to vote that way as they would be going against the wishes of the opponent party and therefore bringing more power to their own.
Edmond Burke definitely believes in being a trustee and using it as a method of representation. He argues that they voted for him, and therefore his judgment is the only one that is important in making a decision. This is because he feels his voice is supreme to his constituents. By doing this, his loses the supports of his constituents, forcing him to lose his reelection. Such an action can anger the public. Since he was elected, he feels that his duty is to speak instead of the people, not on behalf of their wishes.
The delegate model is proper. One can clearly see that any other way is simply undemocratic in any sense. Representation is meant to represent the people. There is no other reason to elect these officials. Members of Congress need to follow through with their constituents’ wishes. They elected the member of Congress. Therefore, they need to have the say in what they do. A member of Congress is elected to represent their constituents in Congress, not their own interests.
Members of Congress have the option of using their powers as being a delegate or a trustee. A delegate is the interpretation of a Congress member who is expected to only represent the views of their constituents, even though they view a policy differently. A legislator’s role can also being interpreted as one being a trustee, which is one who is expected to vote based on their judgement only of a selected policy. Edmund Burke favors both of these legislative views, but feels that being a trustee is a Congress member’s job.
ReplyDeleteBurke argues that Congress members should listen and have high respects for the opinions of their constituents, but to him, that is not the job of a legislator. Constituents aren’t the ones who sit in on congressional debates or speak in Congress, the legislators are. Those make up the job of a legislator, which explains why Burke feels Congress members should be trustees. Legislators should not keep their opinions to themselves, they should be expressed in the highest degree, which is voting the way they want to vote, not the way their constituents want them to vote. Constituents are a big factor that put pressure on a legislator when it comes to voting, as are colleagues, staff, convictions, interest groups and political parties.
Colleagues and one’s party are two larger factors when it comes to the way a legislature votes, they work hand in hand. Most likely when colleagues are a member of the same party, they’ll most likely vote the same way on a bill. Interest groups give legislatures information about what they represent as a group. Interest groups can also influence legislatures with PAC s to donations, to try to convince Congress member to vote their way, as the same with a constituency. Staff members help with campaigns, while convictions help deal with a legislators recent decisions on issues.
A legislature being a delegate is the most proper way for a member of Congress to properly represent their constituencies. The reason the Founding Fathers created the job of a legislator was to represent the population as a whole in the House, and each state equally in the Senate. Representing the people is a major factor of a legislature’s job and a major part of democracy.
As a member of Congress, there are two main models of voting which you can choose to abide by. The first is the delegate model. The delegate model is where an official is expected to represent the views of their constituents, even when they personally hold different views. This means that no matter how they feel on an issue, they are there to represent their constituents and should vote in the way they wish. The second model is the trustee model. The trustee model is where an official is expected to vote independently from what their constituents wish based on their own judgment on the circumstances. This means that what the constituents think doesn’t matter, all that matters is what the congress member thinks is best for their district or area.
ReplyDeleteAlthough there are the two models in which the congress member can choose to adhere to, there is more reason for them to vote. There are members of the Majority party and the Minority party called Whips who count the votes before they are placed. If the congress member doesn’t vote, they can compromise with the whips before placing the vote. If the member is a repeated offender, meaning they always wait to the last minute to vote in order to get what they want, the Whips can “threaten” them (threaten meaning suggesting that they can / will take away their committee assignments and such).
Edmund Burke, was elected to the House of Commons in 1765. He was also an official who believed in the delegate model. Burke said that representative’s constituent wishes ought to have a great weight with the representative. He also said, “It is his duty to sacrifice his repose, his pleasures, his satisfactions, to theirs; and, above all, ever, and in all cases, to prefer their interest to his own.”
Based on what has been said so far, the delegate model seems to be the most rational choice for a congress member who wants to be reelected at any point during his political career. If the representative displeases their constituents by voting for the opposition, they can definitely expect that term to be their last. It is also a way to make sure that the district or area the representatives are from gets exactly what they need to better the community.
Members of Congress make difficult decisions on a daily basis, and have different beliefs in how they should vote on these complicated issues. Individual members make the choice to vote as a delegate or as a trustee. In voting as a delegate officials believe it is their duty to out what “the folks back home” want and vote accordingly, even though they may not personally feel the same. Other members believe they should serve the role of a trustee. This official votes on behalf of their own view of what is best for the district,state, and the nation. Many Congress people shift back and forth in their way of voting, due to their perception of public interest. If the public is very aware of the issue delegates are more likely to vote as a delegate. The way the legislators voted previously and the pressure of the vote can also determine how the individual votes.Members of Congress feel pressure from many different places. Their colleagues, congressional staff, the voters, their own experiences and attitudes about the role of government, interest groups, their parties, and the president. Members of Congress often look to respected fellow members and seek advice from like-minded colleagues. Legislators rarely vote against the strong wishes of their constituents, hearing mostly from the attentive public but being able to explain the way the member voted is a concern. Interest groups help fund campaigns, testify and provide information. Congress members use interest to their full advantage because they are one of the most effective ways to mobilize public pressure and influence. Members also tend to stick with their party in voting. Presidents have their own policy agenda and they try to make their agenda Congresses agenda as well. Edmund Burke believes it is the representatives duty to “sacrifice his repose, his pleasures, his satisfactions to theirs” referring to the voters. Representatives are their to represent the people as a whole taking into consideration what they believe and want but it is ultimately the congress persons job to vote on an issue that he believe will benefit the whole. This representative model is correct because if the member voted the way every individual wanted him to vote it would be impossible, it is a representatives job to make a decision that will convey the opinion of the majority and benefit the people.
ReplyDeleteBeing a member in Congress has gone from a part-time job to a full-time job. Members in Congress have tough decisions to make that could affect the country, the state they represent, and their future as a Congressman. There are two different ways that a Congress member can vote: delegate or trustee. Being a delegate means an official is expected to represent the views of the constituents, even when they have different views personally. Being a trustee means an official is expected to vote based on their own judgment of the circumstances. Most members of Congress go back and forth between voting as a delegate and voting as a trustee. They are usually free to vote however they please because 50 percent of citizens do not know how their representatives vote. However, the representatives are still pressured to choose between these two views.
ReplyDeleteMembers of Congress are pressured to vote a certain way by colleagues, congressional staff, constituents, convictions, interest groups, their party, and the president. Congress members pay the most attention to the views of their party and the constituents. They spend a lot of time trying to connect with the constituents, especially around election time. They think that constituents might be the difference in a victory and a defeat. Members usually vote with their party. Party-line voting has increased recently. Health care, economic policy, and social welfare are issues where party discipline is the strongest.
Edmund Burke believes that the job of a representative is to represent the people. He thinks that members of Congress should be trustees. He says that the views of the people should come before the views of the representative. I think that members of Congress should vote as trustees. I agree with Burke’s statement “Your Representative owes you.” The people voted the representative in Congress and they should re-pay them, or thank them, by voting how they want him or her to vote.
Congress members are ultimately the ones who have the final say in how they vote. Congress has evolved over time from a part time job into a full time job. As the job evolves over time it only makes sense that the congressmen would begin to have more responsibilities in how the people are represented and heard. It only makes sense though that not all people will be heard and many people may form negative opinions towards Congress because they feel neglected in the political world.
ReplyDeleteThere are two different ways that members of Congress can go about voting on issues. They can either choose the path of a Delegate or a Trustee. Delegates have the views of the people in mind and often think about their constituents when voting. They want to appeal to the people in their district so that they will become liked and they will be able to ensure victories in following elections. With this method also comes a price. Representatives want to please the people in their districts but they also want to keep members of their party satisfied. Trustees on the other hand go by the principle that their constituents voted them in because they trusted that they would make the right choices. They go by what they think is best for the people of their districts.
There are also many pressures that are associated with being a congressman. They have to worry about their constituents and their party and making them both happy. This definitely provides for a stressful everyday life. It is definitely hard to find a balance between making both sides happy even though some members of congress don’t care who they upset.
Edmund Burke believes that he should take into consideration the thoughts and feelings of his constituents but he does not owe them anything and does not have to vote the way they want him to. He is obviously going by the views of a trustee and believes that representatives should trust their own judgment. I believe that a trustee is the better way for a congressman to vote. They should definitely care about what their constituents have to say but in the end they should trust their own judgment because in the end they probably know way more than the average person knows about politics.
As a member of Congress, representatives are supposed to represent their constituents as much as they can. The three types of representatives are: a trustee, a delegate, and a politico. A delegate is the one that represents the people the most by mirroring the preferences of their constituents as much as possible. A trustee, the opposite of a delegate, does not mirror the constituents but instead uses their own judgment to vote the way they believe the constituents would want them to. A politico combines the other two models as the representative votes as the constituents want him to on simple issues while on harder issues uses his own judgment to vote the way he thought the constituents would want him to. The model a representative chooses could be a deciding factor on how well he is liked by his constituents.
ReplyDeleteAs a representative they are given much pressure by their constituents, issue groups, their party, and by other members of Congress to pass legislation that benefits them. The constituents are the most influential because they elect their representative to represent them and be their vote in Congress. Many constituents belong to issue groups as well that wish to get certain legislation passed on the things they really support. If a congressman wishes to stay in office they need to listen to their voters and supporters or they won’t reelect them in the next election. The party a representative belongs to puts a lot of pressure on them because they want them to support the beliefs of the party and could threaten to kick them out if they did not listen. Other members of Congress such as fellow committee members will put pressure on congressmen to help pass legislation that would benefit all who were on their committee. All of these groups put much pressure on representatives because they all want them to help their cause.
As a former representative in the English Parliament, Edmund Burke was a man who believed in being a trustee. He was a man who believed in representing his constituents, “Their wishes ought to have great weight with him” but thought that they should trust his judgment. Burke goes on to talk about how his views should not be clouded because he is representing the people. He goes on to say, “his will ought to be subservient to yours” meaning his decision is more important than what his constituents believe.
The proper representative model would be the politico model. The Founding Fathers made our government so that the people would be represented and would have a say in what went on in our government. They also believed the common man was not smart enough to make these decisions so they created a representative democracy so the educated representative would make the decisions for the people. If a representative wishes to stay in office, they will vote the way their constituents want them to. Although they should listen to their constituents, not all things should be left up to the people. The politico model helps represent the people while making sure the right decisions are made and not all things are left up to the people to decide.
Being a member of Congress has become a full-time job and a long term career. Congressmen and women are forced to make many decisions on a variety of topics and policies that require a certain expertise. Individual members of Congress perceive their roles differently. Some believe they should serve as a delegate. A delegate is an official who is expected to represent the views of his or her constituents even when those views differ with those of the delegate. Delegates are to always support their constituents.
ReplyDeleteSome members of Congress believe they their role in Congress should be to serve as a trustee. A trustee is an official who is expected to vote independently based on his or her judgment of the circumstances. A trustee is trusted to make the right choice based on their integrity and knowledge. Out of the representative models, Burke feels that members of Congress should serve as a trustee. Burke respects the opinions of his constituents but feels he should vote based on his own judgment. Burke says, “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.” This quote means that your Representative should stand for what he or she believes and not change his or her decision based on the various opinions of others. If he just listened to the Constituents he would be selling himself short. Burke also says…”which the Member is bound blindly and implicitly to obey, to vote, and to argue for, though contrary to the clearest conviction of his judgment…” This means that members of Congress are supposed to vote and argue independently based on their judgment.
Although it might be easy to decide what representative model you agree with, Burke and members of Congress are often pressured by many groups. They are pressured by the members of parties, interest groups, presidents, congressional staff, lobbyists, their own beliefs and even their own friends. Some interest groups might pressure members. Members of Congress also depend on the Congressional staff to feed them information on bills. Also past experiences can lead members to vote for one side or the other. Interest groups play a big role in pressuring members. Interest groups help members fund for campaigns and help them get elected. This obligates members to vote with interest groups.
After reading Burke’s speech and learning about delegates and trustees, serving as a trustee seems more proper. If I were a member of Congress I would want my vote to be independently based on my judgment. I agree with Burke in respecting the constituent’s views but in the end members of Congress have the ability to hear both sides of an issue and make a well thought out decision.
The way a member of Congress votes influences the country and the district the member lives in. There are two very different ways that members represent their district. The first way is to serve as a delegate from their district, which means they are expected to represent the views of his or her constituents even if they have a different view personally. For example if the majority of the people like the bill the member of Congress will vote for it. The other way is to play the role of a trustee, an official that is expected to vote independently based on their judgment of the circumstance. Members vote this way because only 50 percent of citizens know how their representative voted on a major issue. Either way representatives vote they get pressure put on them.
ReplyDeleteThere are many forces that get put on members of Congress that cause pressure. Their friends, interest groups, constituents, their party, their beliefs and experience all are forces. If a friend of the member votes on a bill in a certain way, the member trusts their judgment and votes the same way, and the opposite. Interest groups influence Congress to vote a certain way by getting them elected and giving them information about the bill. The voters in your district pressure members to vote the way they want you too because if the member does not vote that way, they will not reelect them. The party pressures members to vote with the party, if they don’t they will not get assigned to the committee they want.
Edmond Burke believes in playing the role on a trustee as the method of representation. He says that they voted for him, which means that his judgment is the only important one on decisions. He respects the people’s opinion but he still bases he vote on his beliefs. By voting this way he could loss reelection and support. The trustee method is the best way. They should still care about and listen to what their constituents believe but in the end they should vote the way they want. They should vote the way they want because that is why they got elected and they know more about politics then the average person. If they already did not have the same views as the constituents then they would not have got elected so it is still representing the people.
Currently in the government, there are two main types of competing representative models that are followed by members of Congress. First, there is the delegate model. This model says that legislators believe that it is there duty to find out what “the folks back home” want and act accordingly. In other words, the member of Congress vote in favor of bills that will help their constituencies, or that they keep their constituents wants or views in mind while voting for a bill. The other representative model is called the trustee model. The trustee model says that the member is supposed to vote independently based on his or her judgment of the circumstances. A member that follows this model would argue that their constituents sent them to Congress because the constituents trust that they would make the best choices that they believe would help their constituency.
ReplyDeleteCongress members are pressured by many things when it comes to making decisions in Congress. The first is their colleagues. Members of Congress are very busy and this sometimes leads members to depend on the advice of like-minded colleagues. Some members often vote one way because they know that another colleague voted the opposite way. Also, a member may vote with a colleague in the expectation that the colleague will later turn around a vote on a matter that concerns them. The second is the members’ congressional staff. Most of a member’s political staff actually works in the district and state offices in the members’ constituency. The state or district staff arranges the member’s duties in the state in advance for the members. With this said, the member returns home every weekend to make speeches, appear on television, raise money, and greet voters. The third pressure is convictions. Commonly, members of Congress are influenced by their own experiences and attitudes about the role of government. Also, ideology is closely related to a party as a predictor of congressional voting. The fourth pressure is interest groups. Interest groups can influence in many ways including: contributions to congressional campaigns, testify before committees, provide information to legislative staff, and build public pressure for or against their cause. But, interest groups are always more effective when they mobilize public pressure of members. This means that interest groups have encouraged people to write or call members of Congress and tell them their wants, and what they want to see accomplished. Another key way to influence members of Congress is for interest groups to make political contributions. The fifth pressure has to do with the member’s party. Simply put, members usually vote with their parties, and on bills, the members are more likely to vote is partisan. The last pressure comes from the president. The President sets the legislative agenda and tells Congress what the important issues are, and he can influence members by bribing them with something that could help their constituencies.
Edmund Burke feels that his constituents should be trusting of him and have respect towards him. He also argues that it is a member’s duty is to not to put the constituents’ interests above his/her own and that he should not have to sacrifice his wants or his judgment to anyone. The people are to trust their representative and their judgment. He also ventures on to say that legislation is a matter of reason and judgment, not something that should be chosen because someone likes it. Burke is someone that followed the trustee model.
The representative model that is most proper is the delegate model. The constituents sent that member to Congress to represent them. That member should not vote on something based purely on the fact that he “likes” it or “favors” it over the other. The member should be voting on bills that could potentially help his constituency.
Two types of representative models that influence officials in their role as a legislator are delegates and trustees. The delegate model says the official is expected to represent the views of their constituents, even when holding opposing views. The trustee model says the official is expected to vote based on their independent judgment and views/values. These models are polar opposites and often cause stressors on officials. Representatives must do their job and actually represent, but at the same time officials may have their personal beliefs causing guilt and possibly preventing them from voting the way constituents want. Forces that exert pressure or stress on the officials can be: colleagues or Congressional staff, close family/friends, political party, personal experiences, and the seemingly biggest factor, the constituency. Interest groups are also a big factor. The Congressional staff helps an official to be better represented and to have better recognition. Interest groups and the constituency probably are the most vital because they decide who will get elected and reelected, and they also help decide and control the policy agenda. By looking at the reading on Edmund Burke, it is clear he preferred the delegate model. He states in a speech, “[the officials] ought to be subservient to yours. “ This may seem like a reasonable argument, but people should be true to themselves and be free to make their own choices. If a Congressman has many opposing views to that of the majority of his constituency, it may be asked “How did they get elected in the first place?” and also “How can one trust them, if they are wishy-washy or two-faced?” An official should seem like a delegate, but if it conflicts with their views, I say be a trustee!
ReplyDeleteWhile often contradictory, congressmen have two different types of representative models. A delegate model and a trustee model. The former model is based on the idea that an official is expected to represent the views of his/her constituents even when personally holding different views. The latter idea is based on the idea that an official who is expected to vote independently based on his/her judgment of the circumstances. Edmund Burke favors an official taking the trustee route rather than the delegate path. "Their (congressmen) constituents did not send them to Congress to serve as mere robots or 'errand runners'.
ReplyDeleteConstituents, issue groups, lobbyists, the president, members of parties, congressional staffs, and personal beliefs all exert pressure on members of Congress. Due to having the power of electing representatives, constituents hold the most influence. It is crucial for members of Congress to listen to constituents, as many constituents are part of interest groups, thus many deeply care about the issues they want addressed. If a member of Congress either ignores the constituents or votes against the preference of the constituents, then the constituents/interest groups will not vote for that candidate. According to Edmund Burke, “Their (the constituents) wishes ought to have great weight with him. It is his duty to prefer their interest to his own." In a process called logrolling, members of congress may side with a colleague's stand on issues with the expectation of that same colleague voting favorably on an issue the original member of congress is concerned with.
There is no “best” representative model; all models can put up their own arguments which can hold weight in a debate. However, the model that seems to be least flawed is the trustee model. While many members of Congress prefer the easy way and just go solely with what their constituents want, this method is not reliable, as their constituent’s views are often biased and flawed. Other constituents, mainly those whom do not belong to an interest group, are uneducated. Why should a representative vote on the basis of an opinion held by a person who has no idea what they are talking about? Being in such a position of power, Congress members should vote on how they themselves and their personal staffs feel is the best/ most productive way, regardless of what the most powerful/wealthy interest groups think.
Members of Congress have options when it comes to how they vote. Their votes are important, more important than most votes actually. The Congress member can choose to be a delegate or a trustee when voting. If the Congress member decides to be a delegate they are expected to represent the views of their constituents even if that does not line up with their personal views. If the Congress member takes the route of being a trustee the member is expected to vote solely on their beliefs, completely opposite of delegate voting. Most Congress members vote independently for their judgment is trusted.
ReplyDeleteEdmund Burke has a strong belief that representatives should represent their people. Representatives have a tough job, agreed. They receive much pressure from other members of Congress, even members of the same party. They are pressured to make the right decision, but sometimes the right choice is out of sight for them. It is rare a member will go against their party but it does sometimes happen, obviously making them unpopular. Most members are loyal to their party due to pressure and saving the hassle of explaining why they voted the other way.
Edmund Burke believes if he was voted for, he should represent that group of people loyally. This gains him much support with his party and also trust. This is a good way to look at voting. If the member was voted for by their party, shouldn’t the party support them now? The member’s election showed the people trust them, and like their view, so put it to use. If the member goes with what their party will agree with, yet what they believe is right they should be re-elected the following election.
Congress members have a few options when it comes to voting for legislation. Usually a member of Congress can either be a delegate or a trustee. If a congressman chooses to be a trustee then they will vote on their own personal views alone. If the Congress member decides to be a delegate they have to represent their constituents not the party views or their own personal views.
ReplyDeleteRepresentatives have very tough jobs and are under stressful conditions on a daily basis in Congress. They stress over re-election, problems with their voters, and voting for their own legislation. Edmund Burke said that representatives should do what is in their job title represent the people. Sometimes a member of Congress make a decision, however unpopular, that goes against their parties beliefs but this is rare due to the want for re-election. If a Congress member make a decision that is against their beliefs but with the parties beliefs the congressman usually does this to save an explanation on why they voted that way.
The delegate method is what the people need if the trustee method is used then just the congressman benefits which is appealing to most members of Congress. Delegation represents the people as a whole by electing someone that has similar views as the electorate but trustees just by abusing their own power for personal gain. People vote for incumbency so win once your good for a long time even if a member of Congress vote themselves a pay raise they still have a good chance for re-election. Congress members have power at their disposal its just the way they choose to use it that is bothering the people.
There are two roles that members of congress play, they are Delegates and Trustees. Congressmen have different ways of viewing how they represent their district. Delegates act for the people and vote based on what their constituents want. Trustees say that they were elected to try and make changes that are best for their district, state and, country.
ReplyDeleteCongressmen are pressured by their fellow colleagues, staff, Constituents, convictions, interest groups, and their party. Fellow congressmen and women pressure each other to pass legislation. The Congressional staff shows Congress members what the Legislation will do and how Constituents see the issue. Constituents are not as attentive as congressmen wish, and that hurts their ability to justify how they vote. Congressmen are also pressured on their personal convictions on an issue. Interest groups influence how Congressmen vote to keep companies happy. The Party has influence on how Congressmen vote because they are the people that endorse their campaigns.
I believe that Congressmen should have a mix of the Delegate and Trustee roles. I believe that Congressmen and women should take stock of what their voters want and what their country needs. If they can do that then democracy could become more efficient form of government.
As a delegate, an official must "represent the views of his or her constituents even when personally holding different views." Congress members must disregard personal beliefs and represent the people rather than his own ideas. Burke's arguement is closest to this legislative view. Burke states that "it is [the official's] duty to sacrifice his repose, his pleasures, his satisfactions, to [the people's]; and, above all, ever, and in all cases, to prefer their interest to his own."
ReplyDeleteAs a trustee, Congress members are expected to use their own knowledge, experience, and judgement to make a stand on policy. Burke makes the arguement that the legislature should act independent of their constituents, because they are "three hundred miles distant from those who hear the arguments."
Congress members receive pressure from interest groups and contituents, as well as from party leaders and other members of Congress. Members also pressure themselves on account of their own experiences, morals, and beliefs.
I believe that the role of Congress members is to act as trustees. The American people are ignorant of policy and politicans political views. Congress members should be trusted to make sound judgement on issues, and not abuse the power given to them by voters.
Members of congress can either choose to be a trustee, a delegate or something somewhere in betweeen. If one chooses to be a trustee then (s)he has taken the role of being the trusted representitive for his/her constitutents. The memeber is trusted that the decisions they make will be beneficial to the constituentes. To be a delegate is to do exactly as your constitutes tell you to do.
ReplyDeleteMembers of Congress are pressured to vote a certain way by many facotrs. Some of these are their party, their constituentes, the president, interest groups and, their colleagues. Possibly the strongest two are their party and theit constitutents.
Edmund Burke was a delegate. His theory was that if the party supported me before he was elected, how is he any different now. He isn't. If the people sent him to represent him, then he obviously has the same ideas as them so why would his vote be different from that of what the constituents want.
Members of Congress should be a trustee for the same reasons that Burke felt. If you trusted me enough to represent you, then you should trust me enough to make a vote that you are favorable of. The officials beliefs should be trusted. The American people are not informed enough on issues to know what they really want. Bills are hundreds of pages long and written in prestigious legal terms that the average person would not understand.
There are two main representative models that members of congress can follow. A member could either serve as a delegate or a trustee. A delegate is a member that mirrors the preferences of their constituents, to make sure they find out what people from their district are getting what they want. The other option is a trustee, which is someone who uses their best judgment and vote independently according to their own view, to make policy in the interests of people. Some members of congress could adopt both models also known as a politico. Legislators may shift back and forth between the two; it all depends on their awareness of the public interest, standings on elections, and pressures of the moment.
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot of pressure on a member of Congress. They are influenced by their close colleagues, taking their advice on an issue, which could influence them on the way they vote. Convictions, Members of congress are influenced by their own experiences and how they feel about the government. Congress members rarely vote against the strong desires of their constituents, Lobbyists and Interest groups influence the legislative process tremendously in several ways. They make contributions, provide information of the interests of what people want to the legislative staff, which plays a big role for a member of congress becoming re-elected again. A member’s party persuades the way one can vote, most members vote with their party. Members of both parties have become more loyal over the past thirty years, because parties have become either more liberal or conservative. Party discipline also explain the increasing trend, leaders of parties are becoming more efficient with keeping their members together.
Edmund Burke argues that, “To deliver an opinion, is the right of all men.” What this means is that a member of Congress’s job is to do exactly that, to deliver what citizens want and represent them in Congress; to make sure that their interests and opinions are known. This is exactly what Congress members should follow, the delegate model. They were elected by people from their district to represent their issues, not their own.
There are three different ways that Congress members can represent constituents. They can use trustees, delegates, or politico. Trustees vote they way they personally believe, not always how the constituents want. Most people believe in trustees votes and trust them to make certain decisions. Edmund Burke was a strong believer of trustees. He believed that people should be able to trust their decisons because they actually hear the conversations and can make the best judgemnet. In the delegate model, voters vote for people whose ideals and beliefs they agree with. Congress members vote the way of the constituents even if it doesn't reflect their personal views. Delegates are the most Democratic and representative of the three models. The last model is politico and it uses parts from delegate and trustee models. Congress members vote with constituents on some issue and follow their personal beliefs on others.
ReplyDeleteCongress members can be influenced and pressured in many differnt ways. Alot of the time they vote the way their constituents want so they can increase their chances of winning at reelcetion. However, they can also seek advice from other members. They use this advice to base their decisions. Interest groups can also pressure Congress members to vote one way or the other. They send contributions and information to the representatives to help with their decison making. Congress members have many pressure and responsibilities they must overcome to make the best decisions for our government.
There are two representative models that members of Congress can follow. A member of Congress can either be a delegate or a trustee. A delegate is an official who is expected to represent the views of his or her constituents even when personally holding different views. The other option is a trustee, which is an official who is expected to vote independently based on his or her judgment of the circumstances. The trustee model would be the most democratic way to vote. Edmund Burke favors the trustee model rather than the delegate path.
ReplyDeleteRepresentatives are pressured by many groups. Their staff, colleagues, constituents, convictions, interest groups, their party and even the president pressures a representative to vote a certain way in Congress.Members of Congress rarely vote against the strong wishes of their constituents. Representatives generally vote by which what party they belong to. This is due to party pressure, as well as natural affinity. Partisan voting has increased in the House since the early 1970s and has intensified even more since the 1994 elections.
Edmund Burke favored a trustee representative model rather than a delegate model. Proof of this come from the statement by Burke which says, "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." This shows that Burke believed that a representative should vote based on his or her own judgment. I personally agree with Burke that the trustee model is proper. Representatives should be true to themselves and vote how they want to, not how they are lead to vote by their colleagues. The trustee model is the most democratic and the proper representative model. Congress members should be trusted to make sound judgment on issues, no matter what influences they may endure.
Congressmen can choose to follow one of the two representative models, each model is very different from the other. The delegate model is when a congressman votes according to his constituents thoughts and opinions, not just his own. But the trustee model is the complete opposite, a congressman following the trustee model will make a decision based upon his own thoughts and opinions, with only little regard to what the constituents thinks best. Both models are alike in that they both take the opinion of the constituency into mind, one more than the other, of course. However despite which model a congressman chooses to follow, outside influence will always affect how a congressman votes. Congressmen are often pressured by people who they work with everyday, or, their colleagues. Congressmen can also be influenced by personal experience, or conviction. And of course the wishes of the constituency pressure the members of congress to vote certain ways. And each of these pressures can affect whether a member follows the delegate model or the trustee model. Although sometimes members have high respect for both models, much like Edmund Burke, they will still favor one more than he other. Like when Burke says “Their wishes ought to have great weight with him;” he is talking about the pros of the delegate model but then later says “Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgement;” In this particular quote he is describing how a representative’s opinion is important too, not only the opinion of the constituency. In my own personal opinion, I feel as though the trustee model is the more proper model for modern politics. I believe this because there is no way that a constituent can know all sides to an issue, but a member of congress, however, sits through hours of debate on some issues, so I feel as though their judgement may surpass that of the constituent, seeing as they are more educated on the issue.
ReplyDeleteIn congress there are two models a Congressman or a Senator can follow these are the delegate or trustee models. Theses models have two main differences in the trustee model the official will vote on their own beliefs and views. This model could be dangerous to an official who want to run for reelection. The second model is the delegate model. In this model the official votes the way his constituents want him to. This model may provide a better base for reelection. Now many times an officials vote can be influenced by people close to the official no matter what model they follow. A persons family or friends past experiences or beliefs could be one such factor. Another prime example would be the officials congressional staff who advise him on many thing because he has far to much to do in his day and cannot possibly have time to research every bill he must vote on. Constituents also have large influence because however blunt it is they are the ones who decides if an official will get another term or not. A man named Edmund Burke stated that man should not sacrifice his opinion but should also seriously consider the opinion of his constituents. This leads into a third model that a official can use called the politico model. In this model the official votes on both his views and his constituents views. Overall I see the delegate model as being the most democratic and this being a democratic nation the most fitting model. The model gives the people want the people want, maybe not everyone but it is the majority, no person in congress should blow off the people who voted him in to represent them. He after all is there to represent the people who voted him to be there not him self. But there are some cases in which the official should vote on his views because of how little the public truly knows about a bill and how much more informed he is than the general public. So overall a politico model should be used but it should be slightly more delegate than trustee.
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