The Nature of Political Representation, I

1940 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 236-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
John A. Fairlie

Much has been written on the origin, development, and characteristics of representative government; and in recent years there has been a revival of interest in this subject, and a further analysis of the evidence and criticism of views formerly accepted. In this extensive literature, considerable attention has been given to the nature of political representation and representative government, and to the relation between the representative and his constituents, with important differences in the definitions and meanings ascribed to these terms. Many writers have assumed that their views on these matters are the only correct statements; but some of the more recent writers have recognized, to some extent, the need for a closer analysis of the different senses in which these terms may be employed. An examination of different views may be of service in leading to a clearer understanding of the problems involved.Etymologically, the literal meaning of represent is to “present again,” and from this it has come to mean to appear in place of another. In this secondary sense, a representative has been defined as “an agent, deputy, or substitute, who supplies the place of another or others.”


2001 ◽  
Vol 15 (01) ◽  
pp. 53-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Rehfeld

Every ten years, the United States “constructs” itself politically. On a decennial basis, U.S. Congressional districts are quite literally drawn, physically constructing political representation in the House of Representatives on the basis of where one lives. Why does the United States do it this way? What justifies domicile as the sole criteria of constituency construction? These are the questions raised in this article. Contrary to many contemporary understandings of representation at the founding, I argue that there were no principled reasons for using domicile as the method of organizing for political representation. Even in 1787, the Congressional district was expected to be far too large to map onto existing communities of interest. Instead, territory should be understood as forming a habit of mind for the founders, even while it was necessary to achieve other democratic aims of representative government.



2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-96
Author(s):  
Bert Drejer

This article reconsiders the way political representation was understood in the early modern Netherlands by focusing on the contemporary contribution of Simon van Slingelandt. His views of the representative nature of the government of the Dutch Republic were deeply polemical when he developed them, but went on to have a profound influence on the later literature and are notably sustained in modern histories of the subject. The best way to nuance the view of political representation our historiography has inherited from Van Slingelandt is by returning to the earlier views he set out to discredit. By examining both views, I thus hope to shed some new light on the representative nature of early modern Dutch government.



1976 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 1127-1135 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Kenneth Godwin ◽  
W. Bruce Shepard

Studies attempting to predict public expenditures using political variables have generally incorrectly assumed that political, like socioeconomic, variables function as determinants of policy levels and types. If one assumes, however, that the function of the political process in representative government is to translate citizens' demands for various levels of services as accurately as possible, then political variables must be conceptualized as mediating in character. In the absence of knowledge of whether public services are being oversupplied or undersupplied in relation to citizen demands, the effects of political variables can therefore, be better tested by moving beyond single-equation regression models.An alternative method for examining impacts of political variables is presented by integrating them with conventional theories of political representation. This leads to a concept of “translation error,” and ways of examining relationships between this concept and political variables are explicated. Finally, the greater theoretical utility of this reformulation for the study of public policy is examined, and empirical studies which indicate its validity are cited.



1967 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 268-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara McLennan

Burma, like so many other former British colonies, embarked upon its independence period with the stated aim of establishing a representative government of the parliamentary type. From 1949 to 1962, with the single interruption of General Ne Win's caretaker regime (1958–1960), Burma conducted in practice what its leaders conceived as a Parliamentary system. Concepts of government were “democratic” and emphasized the need for open discussion, political competition, and some real sense of political representation.



2020 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie F. Reyna ◽  
David A. Broniatowski

Abstract Gilead et al. offer a thoughtful and much-needed treatment of abstraction. However, it fails to build on an extensive literature on abstraction, representational diversity, neurocognition, and psychopathology that provides important constraints and alternative evidence-based conceptions. We draw on conceptions in software engineering, socio-technical systems engineering, and a neurocognitive theory with abstract representations of gist at its core, fuzzy-trace theory.



Author(s):  
Richard B. Mott ◽  
John J. Friel ◽  
Charles G. Waldman

X-rays are emitted from a relatively large volume in bulk samples, limiting the smallest features which are visible in X-ray maps. Beam spreading also hampers attempts to make geometric measurements of features based on their boundaries in X-ray maps. This has prompted recent interest in using low voltages, and consequently mapping L or M lines, in order to minimize the blurring of the maps.An alternative strategy draws on the extensive work in image restoration (deblurring) developed in space science and astronomy since the 1960s. A recent example is the restoration of images from the Hubble Space Telescope prior to its new optics. Extensive literature exists on the theory of image restoration. The simplest case and its correspondence with X-ray mapping parameters is shown in Figures 1 and 2.Using pixels much smaller than the X-ray volume, a small object of differing composition from the matrix generates a broad, low response. This shape corresponds to the point spread function (PSF). The observed X-ray map can be modeled as an “ideal” map, with an X-ray volume of zero, convolved with the PSF. Figure 2a shows the 1-dimensional case of a line profile across a thin layer. Figure 2b shows an idealized noise-free profile which is then convolved with the PSF to give the blurred profile of Figure 2c.



2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 1775-1791
Author(s):  
Nazila Aghayi ◽  
Samira Salehpour

The concept of cost efficiency has become tremendously popular in data envelopment analysis (DEA) as it serves to assess a decision-making unit (DMU) in terms of producing minimum-cost outputs. A large variety of precise and imprecise models have been put forward to measure cost efficiency for the DMUs which have a role in constructing the production possibility set; yet, there’s not an extensive literature on the cost efficiency (CE) measurement for sample DMUs (SDMUs). In an effort to remedy the shortcomings of current models, herein is introduced a generalized cost efficiency model that is capable of operating in a fuzzy environment-involving different types of fuzzy numbers-while preserving the Farrell’s decomposition of cost efficiency. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, the present paper is the first to measure cost efficiency by using vectors. Ultimately, a useful example is provided to confirm the applicability of the proposed methods.



2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-36
Author(s):  
Eleazar Ndabarora ◽  
Dariya Mukamusoni ◽  
Clarte Ndikumasabo ◽  
Védaste Ngirinshuti

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally and in Sub-Saharan Africa in particular. There is evidence that early detection and early management of cases are the best strategies to prevent and control this health threat, since treatment of the later stages of the diseases are very expensive. The objectives of the review were: (1) to identify and review studies on the prevalence of cervical cancer and determinants of early detection in Sub-Saharan Africa, and (2) to recommend further studies and interventions based on the findings of this review. Extensive literature search was conducted using the MeSH terms. Articles on cervical cancer and/or determinants of early detection which fulfilled inclusion criteria were reviewed independently by three reviewers. The prevalence of cervical cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa is increasing. Although there are evidences that cervical cancer screening programs are practical and feasible even in resource-limited settings in Sub-Saharan Africa, there is a very low uptake of cervical cancer screening and there are key factors that need to be addressed in order to make these programs established and effective.



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