The delegate model of representation is a model of a
representative democracy
Representative democracy, also known as indirect democracy or electoral democracy, is a type of democracy where elected delegates represent a group of people, in contrast to direct democracy. Nearly all modern Western-style democracies func ...
. In this model,
constituents elect their representatives as delegates for their
constituency
An electoral (congressional, legislative, etc.) district, sometimes called a constituency, riding, or ward, is a geographical portion of a political unit, such as a country, state or province, city, or administrative region, created to provi ...
. 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 is the capacity to make an informed, uncoerced decision. Autonomous organizations or institutions are independent or self-governing. Autonomy can also be ...
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
Irish philosopher
Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke (; 12 January ew Style, NS1729 – 9 July 1797) was an Anglo-Irish Politician, statesman, journalist, writer, literary critic, philosopher, and parliamentary orator who is regarded as the founder of the Social philosophy, soc ...
(1729–1797) contested this model and supported the alternative
trustee model of representation.
The delegate model of representation is made use of in various forms of
council democracy and commune democracy. Models of democratic rule making extensive use of the delegate model of representation are often labeled "
delegative democracy". However, the merging of these two terms is criticized as misleading.
Further reading
*Burke, Edmund. 1774. ''Speech to the electors of Bristol'' in The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke. Vol. II. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press (1906).
See also
*
Trustee model of representation
*
Liquid 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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