Its hard to say because I think so much of it depends on who it is and what the issue is. Senators tend to have more leeway than House members, mainly because of the size of the districts. It seems that party affiliation has a greater impact on how a congress man or woman votes. I think that the representatives personal views overshadow the thoughts of their constiuents, although there are exceptions. If you take the current Congress I would say that they haven't been very good at representing the American people. Most Americans want out of Iraq etc. but yet nothing is getting done.
The members of congress are very representitve of the American people, especially in the House of Representitives. House members almost need to cater to the people of their district if they want to be re-elected. The Senate, which is not as representitve of the people, does not need to represent their state as much as the House members, because they are elected every six years, rather than 2. If they follow their own personal agenda(which they often do) in the early part of their term, no one will remember enough to care. This means Senate members aren't as representitive of the people as the House members, who are very representitive.
Most of the time Congress is right on track with the desires of the American Public, but there are always occasions where the Congress is out of touch with the public opinion. For instance, Republican members are usually more conservative than the public and the same goes for Democrats in being more liberal. Usually they have a happy medium and can reflect the desires of many people, but other times it's not in their ideology of beliefs. The members in the House seem to be more representative of the American people because of their short terms of only 2 years. They tend to act more as delegates because they have to seek re-election every 2 years and need to please the constituents. The members of the Senate aren't as much delegates as they tend to represent the political beliefs they have, not the people they represent. This is because of their longer terms of 6 years, most people won't remember what they did at the beginning of their term so they can always start becoming more delegate-like in their final couple of years. Basically, House members are more representative than Senate members. The Framers of the Constitution wanted this kind of representation. They wanted representatives to refine, not reflect, public wishes, and meditate, not mirror, public views. On this account it seems that the Senate adequately does it's job by looking out for the best interests of how they feel they should represent.
Overall, the Congress tends to represent the people more so than the Senate mainly because they have to run for reelection every two years. The Senate on the other hand, only has to run every six years. Although near the end of their six year term they may try to cater to the people as much as possible to encourage people to vote for them.
Overall the people are represented by congress. Like everyone said , The house has more of a direct link because they only serve for two years, and must be delegates to their districts. The senate however can serve up to six years. With this leeway they can influence congress with their own will and ideas, which separates them from the people. Even though the demographics of congress are changing with the addition of women and minorities being elected. There still is a gap that can affect representation.
in a way they have to be because after 2 years they have to go up for reelection, and if they do not represent the people of their area, then they may not be able to get re elected, though they do sometimes do things that they feel is better than what is needed, or wanted by the people, but much less than what they do for the poeple.
Congress does well to represent the American public, especially the House. I think the House of Representatives has better ability to represent the people because they are only representing a certain district, while a senator is representing a state. It seems both parts of Congress do well representing the public's interests probably partly because they want to be viewed in a good-light by the public and stay in office. It seems that the Senate does not represent the people as well because they are representing a much larger area and have less to worry about when it comes election time.
Like stated earlier more so with the house then the senate. The house is continually up for reelection while the senate has more lee way to do as they please for a time. The congress must represent the people at least some of the time if they wish for reelection and to not be kicked out of office.
As people, no. The average congressperson (white, male, Protestant, upper-middle class) seems too unrepresentative of the American myriad, though congressional diversity is improving. When it comes to ideas, it really depends on the person. Some congresspersons (particularly in the house of representatives) practice a delegate philosophy, being constantly on the lookout for laws/ funds their constituents support. Representatives need to stay in line with the constituents, because with 2 years per term they are constantly threatened by elections. Other congressmen (particularly Senate members) are more likely to serve as trustees, looking out for what they feel is right for themselves or their constituents, but less dependent on constituent views. Senators are more likely to look at America as a whole, and with 6-year terms are less worried about reelection.
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Its hard to say because I think so much of it depends on who it is and what the issue is. Senators tend to have more leeway than House members, mainly because of the size of the districts. It seems that party affiliation has a greater impact on how a congress man or woman votes. I think that the representatives personal views overshadow the thoughts of their constiuents, although there are exceptions. If you take the current Congress I would say that they haven't been very good at representing the American people. Most Americans want out of Iraq etc. but yet nothing is getting done.
The members of congress are very representitve of the American people, especially in the House of Representitives. House members almost need to cater to the people of their district if they want to be re-elected. The Senate, which is not as representitve of the people, does not need to represent their state as much as the House members, because they are elected every six years, rather than 2. If they follow their own personal agenda(which they often do) in the early part of their term, no one will remember enough to care. This means Senate members aren't as representitive of the people as the House members, who are very representitive.
Most of the time Congress is right on track with the desires of the American Public, but there are always occasions where the Congress is out of touch with the public opinion. For instance, Republican members are usually more conservative than the public and the same goes for Democrats in being more liberal. Usually they have a happy medium and can reflect the desires of many people, but other times it's not in their ideology of beliefs. The members in the House seem to be more representative of the American people because of their short terms of only 2 years. They tend to act more as delegates because they have to seek re-election every 2 years and need to please the constituents. The members of the Senate aren't as much delegates as they tend to represent the political beliefs they have, not the people they represent. This is because of their longer terms of 6 years, most people won't remember what they did at the beginning of their term so they can always start becoming more delegate-like in their final couple of years. Basically, House members are more representative than Senate members. The Framers of the Constitution wanted this kind of representation. They wanted representatives to refine, not reflect, public wishes, and meditate, not mirror, public views. On this account it seems that the Senate adequately does it's job by looking out for the best interests of how they feel they should represent.
Overall, the Congress tends to represent the people more so than the Senate mainly because they have to run for reelection every two years. The Senate on the other hand, only has to run every six years. Although near the end of their six year term they may try to cater to the people as much as possible to encourage people to vote for them.
Overall the people are represented by congress. Like everyone said , The house has more of a direct link because they only serve for two years, and must be delegates to their districts. The senate however can serve up to six years. With this leeway they can influence congress with their own will and ideas, which separates them from the people. Even though the demographics of congress are changing with the addition of women and minorities being elected. There still is a gap that can affect representation.
in a way they have to be because after 2 years they have to go up for reelection, and if they do not represent the people of their area, then they may not be able to get re elected, though they do sometimes do things that they feel is better than what is needed, or wanted by the people, but much less than what they do for the poeple.
Congress does well to represent the American public, especially the House. I think the House of Representatives has better ability to represent the people because they are only representing a certain district, while a senator is representing a state. It seems both parts of Congress do well representing the public's interests probably partly because they want to be viewed in a good-light by the public and stay in office. It seems that the Senate does not represent the people as well because they are representing a much larger area and have less to worry about when it comes election time.
Like stated earlier more so with the house then the senate. The house is continually up for reelection while the senate has more lee way to do as they please for a time. The congress must represent the people at least some of the time if they wish for reelection and to not be kicked out of office.
As people, no. The average congressperson (white, male, Protestant, upper-middle class) seems too unrepresentative of the American myriad, though congressional diversity is improving. When it comes to ideas, it really depends on the person. Some congresspersons (particularly in the house of representatives) practice a delegate philosophy, being constantly on the lookout for laws/ funds their constituents support. Representatives need to stay in line with the constituents, because with 2 years per term they are constantly threatened by elections. Other congressmen (particularly Senate members) are more likely to serve as trustees, looking out for what they feel is right for themselves or their constituents, but less dependent on constituent views. Senators are more likely to look at America as a whole, and with 6-year terms are less worried about reelection.
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