Legislators represent through three lenses: personal views, promises made during campaigns, and the will of their constituents. While these sometimes align, they often conflict.
In a study on immigration—a highly relevant policy—researchers used an experimental design to explore which representation principle citizens prioritize when making judgments about how legislators should vote.
The findings were clear: citizens place primary importance on understanding public opinion within their own constituency.
| How Citizens Want Their Legislator to Vote was authored by Ruth Dassonneville, André Blais, Semra Sevi and Jeanâ€François Daoust. It was published by Wiley in LSQ in 2021. |
