Can someone please explain the four models of representation (delegate, partisan, trustee and mirror). Thank you

A woman in a grey jacket is standing at a desk in a red room. She is speaking. Other women sit on benches around her, listening to her speak.

A senator speaking in the Senate.

DPS Auspic

A senator speaking in the Senate.

A woman in a grey jacket is standing at a desk in a red room. She is speaking. Other women sit on benches around her, listening to her speak.

DPS Auspic

Description

A senator speaking in the Senate.

Permission should be sought from DPS AUSPIC for third-party or commercial uses of this image. To contact DPS AUSPIC email: auspic@aph.gov.au or phone: 02 6277 3342.

Hi, thanks for your question about different models of representation.

While the terms delegate, partisan, trustee and mirror are not commonly used to describe representation, they do relate to 4 different ideas about how members of parliament represent the people who elected them. Three of these cover ways that an elected representative might approach their work:

  • Trustee representation – elected representatives are entrusted by voters with the responsibility of governing for all. Representatives are free to serve the people as they think best.
  • Delegate representation – elected representatives are delegated the responsibility to act in the interests of the people who elected them. This means that representatives would consider their electorate, state or territory when making decisions.
  • Partisan representation – representatives are elected as a member of a party and have a responsibility to make decisions in line with their party’s policies.

Mirror representation is the idea that an elected body of representatives should reflect society’s different groups in similar proportions to those that exist in the wider population. Examples of different groups could be people of different social, religious or ethnic backgrounds.