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Representational Role Types: A Research Note

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

Norman Meller
Norman Meller*
Affiliation:
University of Hawaii
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Extract

As part of their state legislative research project, Professors Wahlke, Eulau, Buchanan, and Ferguson subjected Edmund Burke's classical phrasing of the dilemma of representation to an empirical examination. Burke postulated the style of representation in terms of either-or: the legislator is either a mere spokesman for his constituents or he represents them as he believes best. The 4-state survey findings did not bear Burke out; rather, they disclosed a trichotomy, three major representational role types, with a classification of “Politico” appearing along with “Delegate” and “Trustee.” The Politico expresses an overlap of both orientations, so that representative types can be conceived of along a continuum, rather than constituting two polar positions, with the Politico placed toward the mid-point. In numerical frequency, as well, the Politico type was also found to fall between the other two. Left to be determined is the universality of the 4-state formulation of representational roles.

Over the last decade I have periodically observed the evolution of legislatures functioning in the American-administered regions of the Pacific. Here are to be found a number of under-developed societies, or to employ a more informative description, distinctive cultures in transitional status adapting introduced political forms to customary political practices. These traditional practices are fundamentally premised upon the resolving of differences through the reaching of consensus for taking political action.

Type
Research Notes
Information
American Political Science Review , Volume 61 , Issue 2 , June 1967 , pp. 474 - 477
Copyright
Copyright © American Political Science Association 1967

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References

1 Wahlke, John, Eulau, Heinz, Buchanan, William, and Ferguson, LeRoy, The Legislative System (New York: Wiley, 1962), 267 ffGoogle Scholar; also see “The Role of the Representative: Some Empirical Observations on the Theory of Edmund Burke,” this Review, 53 (September, 1959), at p. 742.

2 See Meller, Norman, “Three American Legislative Bodies in the Pacific,” in Force, Roland W., (ed.), Induced Political Change in the Pacific (Honolulu: Bishop Museum Press, 1965)Google Scholar.

3 The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands is divided into six administrative districts, of which the Marshalls comprise the easternmost. This archipelago of but 70 square miles of land, habited by 18,200 people, is scattered over some 180,000 square miles of ocean.

4 In 1960 the Marshallese Congress was converted into a unicameral body, with Iroij and Leiroj enjoying life membership.

5 The 17 utilizatile replies from the 42-member Marshallese House and the 13 responsive Samoan Representatives of the 16 interviewed (17-member House) provided a coverage which compares well with that reported for California in the State Legislative Research Project.

6 The Legislative System, p. 281.

7 Established by Secretary of Interior order 2882, dated September 28, 1964.

8 In some areas, due to illiteracy, a “whisper” vote was employed.

9 See Meller, Norman, “Trust Territory,” East-West Center Today, 6 (01-February, 1966), p. 9Google Scholar.

10 Different parties ran candidates in two of the six districts.

11 However, in a few cases replies classed as “Other,” which did not fit any category, had to be eliminated.

12 The Legislative System, p. 282.

13 The Truk District, which comprises the mid-zone of the Carolinas, is the most heavily populated of all districts in the Trust Territory (24,500), and embraces the smallest land area.