POL S101 Lecture 6: Lecture 6A
3 Mar 2018
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Document Summary
Legislatures as a key channel of representation in the democratic state but not the only one. Allow the voices of the people to be relayed. Do public officials represent our interest or are they acting in the public good? (burke: burke emphasized that politicians should not just be a mirror of the people, The extent to which the legislature is a representation of the people/perspectives. Represent their constituents (personal vs party: party lists reflect different social interests in different territories. In reality, the executive keeps tight control of agenda (mp"s cannot usually introduce bills, can do it but not very common) contrast with u. s where congress usually initiates bills. Parliaments undertake these functions in committees and in plenary sessions, open floor or debates. Upper houses provide a means for mixed basis of representation: federalism is a good example so you can use two different methods of representation (elected so constituents have some representation and appointed people to represent regional interests)
