The delegate model of representation is a model of a
representative democracy. In this model,
constituents elect their representatives as delegates for their
constituency
An electoral district, also known as an election district, legislative district, voting district, constituency, riding, ward, division, or (election) precinct is a subdivision of a larger State (polity), state (a country, administrative region, ...
. These delegates act only as a mouthpiece for the wishes of their constituency/state and have no
autonomy
In developmental psychology and moral, political, and bioethical philosophy, autonomy, from , ''autonomos'', from αὐτο- ''auto-'' "self" and νόμος ''nomos'', "law", hence when combined understood to mean "one who gives oneself one's ...
from the constituency only the autonomy to vote for the actual representatives of the state. This model does not provide representatives the luxury of acting in their own conscience and is bound by
imperative mandate. Essentially, the representative acts as the voice of those who are (literally) not present.
History
This model was contested by
Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke (; 12 January NS.html"_;"title="New_Style.html"_;"title="/nowiki>New_Style">NS">New_Style.html"_;"title="/nowiki>New_Style">NS/nowiki>_1729_–_9_July_1797)_was_an_ NS.html"_;"title="New_Style.html"_;"title="/nowiki>New_Style"> ...
(1729–1797), an Irish philosopher, who supported the alternative
trustee model of representation. His famous refusal to accept instructions from his Bristol electors was necessitated by his conscientious objection to voting in Parliament for laws supporting their lucrative and immoral slave trade.
The delegate model of representation is made use of in various forms of
council democracy and commune democracy (more recent example is
Parpolity proposed by
Stephen Shalom
Stephen Rosskamm Shalom is a professor of political science at William Paterson University where he has taught since 1977. He is a writer on social and political issues and is a contributor to Znet and '' Democratic Left''. He is on the editorial ...
) and
liquid democracy
Liquid democracy is a form of delegative democracy, whereby an electorate engages in collective decision-making through direct participation and dynamic representation. This democratic system utilizes elements of both direct and represent ...
. Models of democratic rule making extensive use of delegate model of representation are often labeled
delegative democracy.
Guillermo O'Donnell has used the term "delegative democracy" to criticize authoritarian tendencies in newly created democratic states.
Further reading
*Burke, Edmund. 1774 (1906). ''Speech to the electors of Bristol'' in The Works of the Right Honorable Edmund Burke. Vol. II. New York: Oxford University Press.
See also
*
Trustee model of representation
*
Delegative democracy
*
Imperative mandate
References
External links
'Representative Government' by J.S. Mill'On Liberty' by J.S Mill
Types of democracy
Political philosophy
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