The Nature of Political Representation, II

In: American political science review, Volume 34, Issue 3, p. 456-466

Abstract

In the literature of law, there has been comparatively little discussion as to the nature of political representation. A representative democracy has been defined as "a form of government where the powers of the sovereignty are delegated to a body of men, elected from time to time, who exercise them for the benefit of the whole nation." And a representative form of government has been defined as "a government conducted and constituted by the agency of delegates, or deputies, chosen by the people."Judge Thomas M. Cooley, speaking for the Michigan supreme court, said: "A representative is one chosen by a principal to exercise for him a power or perform for him a trust. In that sense, the mayor of a city is a representative for some purposes, the members of the common council for others, and the members of the board of education for still others … the right to be represented implies a right, not merely to name the person, but also to designate the trust that shall be confided to him." On this basis, it was held that a board of park commissioners established by the state legislature with certain powers, and recognized by the common council of the city, could not be vested afterwards by the legislature with additional powers previously exercised by the council.Somewhat similar is the position of an English judge as to the authority of a representative in a legal proceeding. "A solicitor is the representative of his client, but counsel is not, for counsel has the whole conduct of the case, and can act even against the instructions of his client." It was accordingly held that a solicitor is a representative within S. 17(4) Bankry Act, 1883, and must be "authorized in writing" to entitle him to question a debtor at a public hearing.