representative government
- representative government
A political system is representative if it is one in which representatives of the people share, to a significant degree, in the making of decisions. For this to apply there must be a good number of representatives meeting in some kind of free assembly. They are chosen to protect and advance the interests of the individuals on whose behalf they are acting and must be freely elected. In Western democracies, it is the manner of choice – free elections – which is seen as the key component of representative government.
But what is a representative of the people? The term is commonly used in different ways: a person whose task it is to protect and advance the interests of the group being represented; a person or assembly who or which has been freely elected; an elected body which mirrors or reflects the characteristics of the community as a whole. In the West, the main meaning of representation is concerned with election. Representation by election is the most important form of representation, with people choosing an assembly to reflect their wishes. Electoral reformers will, however, point out that the assembly chosen is not truly representative, for governments have been chosen by less than half of the voters in every election postwar and might therefore be said to have lacked legitimacy. This is particularly true of recent experience: Labour won in 2005 on the basis of a low level of popular support (35.2 per cent of those who voted, little over 20 per cent of the whole electorate), a ‘success’ achieved on a low turnout. Also, Britain an assembly in which minority parties have traditionally been seriously under-represented.
Glossary of UK Government and Politics .
2013.
Look at other dictionaries:
representative government — government made up of elected delegates … English contemporary dictionary
Representative Government — Dr Little interest felt in, by French Canadians, 61; mentioned in their petition to the king, 61. See also Responsible government … The makers of Canada
representative government — /ˌrɛprəzɛntətɪv ˈgʌvənmənt/ (say .repruhzentuhtiv guvuhnmuhnt) noun government by a body of elected representatives, purporting to represent the interests of their electors …
Considerations on Representative Government — Representative Government redirects here. For other uses, see Representative democracy. Considerations on Representative Government is the title of a book by John Stuart Mill published in 1861. As the title suggests, it is an argument for… … Wikipedia
representative government — noun An electoral system where citizens vote to elect people to represent their interests and concerns. Those elected meet to debate and make laws on behalf of the whole community or society, instead of the people voting directly on laws and… … Wiktionary
Considerations on Representative Government — (dt.: Betrachtungen über die repräsentative Regierung) ist ein 1861 vom britischen Philosophen und Ökonomen John Stuart Mill veröffentlichtes demokratietheoretisches Werk. Zusammenfassung John Stuart Mill wurde in seinem politischen Denken stark… … Deutsch Wikipedia
Representative — Rep re*sent a*tive ( z?nt ? t?v), a. [Cf. F. repr?sentatif.] 1. Fitted to represent; exhibiting a similitude. [1913 Webster] 2. Bearing the character or power of another; acting for another or others; as, a council representative of the people.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Government failure — (or non market failure) is the public sector analogy to market failure and occurs when a government intervention causes a more inefficient allocation of goods and resources than would occur without that intervention. Likewise, the government s… … Wikipedia
representative — [rep΄rə zen′tə tiv] adj. [ME < MFr or ML: MFr représentatif < ML repraesentativus] 1. representing or serving to represent; specif., a) picturing; portraying; reproducing b) acting or speaking, esp. by due authority, in the place or on… … English World dictionary
Government of Meiji Japan — The Government of Meiji Japan (明治政府 (Meiji seifu?)) was the government which was formed by politicians of the Satsuma Domain, Chōshū Domain and Tenno. The Meiji government was the early government of the Empire of Japan. Politicians of the Meiji… … Wikipedia
