Congress and representation

Question 1

How legislators represent their constituents

Answer 1

THE TRUSTEE MODEL :

• Legislators make decisions on behalf of constituents
• Legislators use their ‘mature nature’

THE DELEGATE MODEL :
- Legislator makes decisions to reflect their constituents views

Question 2

Who the legislators are

Answer 2

Whether legislators are representative of their constituents in terms of :

• Gender
• Race
• Age

Question 3

House of Representatives vs House of Commons

House of Reps

Answer 3

• 2 years membership
• Only 2 parties represented
• Shares equal legislative power with upper chamber
• Committee stage comes before floor debate
• Speaker is a partisan figure

Question 4

House of Representatives vs House of Commons

House of Commons

Answer 4

• 5 years term
• 8 parties currently represented
• Has legislative power on most matters
• Committee stage comes after floor debate
• Speaker is a neutral umpire of debate

Question 5

Senate v House of Lords

Senate

Answer 5

• Directly elected
• Members serve 6 year terms
• Equal legislative power with lower chamber
• Has power to confirms executive and judicial appointments
• Has power to ratify treaties

Question 6

Senate v House of Lords

House of Lords

Answer 6

• By appointment or hereditary
• Most members serve for life
• Essentially only a delaying power over legislation
• No power to confirm executive and judicial appointments
• Has no power to ratify treaties