When describing his approach to political representation in 2010 in the context of his vote in favor of healthcare reform, U.S. Rep. Gary Peters said:
“I try to listen to as many views and collect as much information as possible, thoroughly read legislation and then vote my conscience based on the answer to this question: Does the proposal improve the lives of people in our community? Representing the people you serve and voting your conscience are not mutually exclusive if your primary goal is to help solve problems people are facing” (Gilbert, 2010).
Meanwhile, President John Tyler described his views on representation when giving a speech against a policy that would have raised congressional salaries:
“If a member of this House is not a representative of the people, what is he? And if he is, how can he be regarded as representing the people when he speaks, not their language, but his own? He ceases to be their representative when he does so, and represents himself alone. Is the creature to set himself in opposition to his creator?…From the meaning of the word representative, the obligation to obey instructions results.
The Federal Constitution was submitted to conventions of the different states for adoption. Suppose the people had instructed their representatives in convention to have rejected the Constitution, and their instructions had been disobeyed, would this be called a government of the people adopted by their choice?…If the opinion of a member of this House is to be regarded as more correct than theirs-if he is to be esteemed more wise than they, why should he be responsible to his constituents for his conduct? It is the height of absurdity to say that a man shall owe responsibility to a tribunal not so capable of deciding between right and wrong as the individual himself” (Abell, 1843, pg. 16-17).
Consider the conceptual schema developed by Rehfeld (2009) and then answer the questions that follow.
(Schematic Conceptual Space of 3 Distinctions) attached below.
1. How would you categorize Peters’ and Tyler’s models of representation? Justify your answer with evidence from the passages.
2. Using the passages, Rehfeld reading, lecture, and/or class discussion in section or on the discussion boards, enumerate one benefit of Peters’ approach and one benefit of Tyler’s approach.
3. Say you had a chance to elect either Tyler or Peters as a representative. What are the two ways that an election would help ensure representation?
4. Based on the benefits of both approaches to representation and the methods by which elections induce representation, which candidate would you vote for?
