Powers of representatives

Powers of representatives

Representatives are elected by the general public , as in national elections for the national legislature. Elected representatives may hold the facility to pick other representatives, presidents, or other officers of the govt or of the legislature, because the Prime Minister within the latter case. (indirect representation).

The power of representatives is typically curtailed by a constitution (as during a constitutional democracy or a constitutional monarchy) or other measures to balance representative power:

An independent judiciary, which can have the facility to declare legislative acts unconstitutional (e.g. constitutional court, supreme court).

The constitution can also provide for a few deliberative democracy (e.g., Royal Commissions) or direct popular measures (e.g., initiative, referendum, recall elections). However, these aren't always binding and typically require some legislative action—legal power usually remains firmly with representatives.[where?]

In some cases, a bicameral legislature may have an "upper house" that's indirectly elected, like the Senate of Canada, which was successively modeled on British House of Lords.

Theorists like Burke believe that a part of the duty of a representative wasn't simply to speak the needs of the electorate but also to use their own judgement within the exercise of their powers, albeit their views aren't reflective of these of a majority of voters:

...it need to be the happiness and glory of a representative to measure within the strictest union, the closest correspondence, and therefore the most unreserved communication together with his constituents. Their wishes need to have great weight with him; their opinion, high respect; their business, unremitted attention. it's his duty to sacrifice his repose, his pleasures, his satisfactions, to theirs; and in particular , ever, and altogether cases, to prefer their interest to his own. 

But his unbiassed opinion, his mature judgment, his enlightened conscience, he ought to not sacrifice to you, to any man, or to any set of men living. These he doesn't derive from your pleasure; no, nor from the law and therefore the constitution. they're a trust from Providence, for the abuse of which he's deeply answerable. Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he brutally betrays, rather than serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion.

By Inama Blessing.

Legal Solicitor.