Representation and elections
Members of Congress must balance the wishes of voters, their party, and their own judgment.
Models of representation
A delegate votes as constituents want. A trustee uses their own judgment about what is best. A politico mixes the two depending on the issue. Members also do casework, helping individual constituents with problems such as veterans' benefits or passports, which builds support at home.
Incumbency advantage
Incumbents, those already in office, win re-election at very high rates. Advantages include name recognition, staff, the ability to send mail to constituents, fundraising networks, and a record of bringing projects home. Challengers usually struggle to match these resources.
Districts and gerrymandering
State legislatures usually draw House district lines after each census. Gerrymandering is drawing districts to favour a party or group, for example by 'packing' opposing voters into a few districts or 'cracking' them across many. Courts have banned racial gerrymanders that dilute minority votes, but in 2019 the Supreme Court said partisan gerrymandering claims are not for federal courts to decide.
Flashcard
Representatives use their own judgment
Check your understanding
A legislature draws district lines so that most of one party's voters are crowded into a single district, reducing that party's seats elsewhere. This is: