# Aren't U.S. Representatives SUPPOSED to listen... **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 30, 2008, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-u-s-representatives-supposed-to-listen/465938 "2008-09-30T23:24:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ManiacMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b782af/32.png) [@ManiacMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ManiacMan)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-u-s-representatives-supposed-to-listen/465938/1 "2008-09-30T23:24:27Z")
To their constituents? > **[Yahoo Finance - Stock Market Live, Quotes, Business & Finance News](https://finance.yahoo.com/)** > > At Yahoo Finance, you get free stock quotes, up-to-date news, portfolio management resources, international market data, social interaction and mortgage rates that help you manage your financial life. > [@](#): > > The pressures those lawmakers faced was summed up by Rep. Don Young of Alaska, an 18-term lawmaker and the state’s only representative in the House. Currently under an ethics cloud, Young voted no mostly **because an overwhelming majority of the constituents who called his office were against the bailout**. Correct me if I am wrong, but aren’t these people, our elected representatives SUPPOSED to do what their constituency wants them to do? If the majority of the callers are telling a rep. that they are against a bill, _any_ bill then guess what? The representative should vote NO. Since when does it work the other way around? This problem has been brewing alot longer than in the past few weeks, and now _all of the sudden_ a piece of legislation needs to get rammed through without listening to voters? Tell me what I am missing here! Obviously, the legislation was flawed and the lawmakers need to rewrite until they get it right. The legislators who **LISTENED TO THEIR CONSTITUENCY** are supposed to do that…right? ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-u-s-representatives-supposed-to-listen/465938/2 "2008-09-30T23:31:03Z")
I don’t think it’s as cut & dried as all that. It’s that whole Profiles In Courage thing…IMHO, in theory, our representatives are supposed to do what’s best for the nation as a whole, in the long run – not what their constituents want today. If it costs them at the next election, that’s the price they pay for doing what’s right. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-u-s-representatives-supposed-to-listen/465938/3 "2008-09-30T23:32:04Z")
No. They’re supposed to do what they think is best for the country. Sometimes that involves listening to the people, and sometimes not. That’s one reason we don’t have a direct democracy. ---
**Author:** ![Clu-Me-In](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-u-s-representatives-supposed-to-listen/465938/4 "2008-09-30T23:32:33Z")
> [@ManiacMan](#): > > To their constituents? > > Correct me if I am wrong, but aren’t these people, our elected representatives SUPPOSED to do what their constituency wants them to do? If the majority of the callers are telling a rep. that they are against a bill, _any_ bill then guess what? The representative should vote NO. Since when does it work the other way around? \*1.) “The majority of callers,” does not represent the majority of his constituents. 2.) What was the oath that he swore when he/she became a congressman/woman? 3.) I’m so glad congress did not vote based on what the majority of callers or their constituents wanted, otherwise we would still have slavery.\* ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-u-s-representatives-supposed-to-listen/465938/5 "2008-09-30T23:35:22Z")
Yes and no. They’re supposed to _represent_ their constituents. One of the reasons we have representative democracies in the first place is that the common Joe doesn’t have the requisite information to make informed decisions about most government policies. The Representative has the job of learning enough to make judgements on issues I just don’t have time for. As such, there will be times when my Representative should vote for what I would want if I had the information, rather than what I do want in the absence of it. Sometimes, he should vote that way even if I will turn around and fail to re-elect him, because it’s just that important. Arguably, this is one of those times. ---
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-u-s-representatives-supposed-to-listen/465938/6 "2008-09-30T23:37:19Z")
> [@Clu-Me-In](#): > > 2.) What was the oath that he swore when he/she became a congressman/woman? > [@](#): > > “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.” And what does the bailout have to do with the Oath again? ---
**Author:** ![Clu-Me-In](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-u-s-representatives-supposed-to-listen/465938/7 "2008-09-30T23:46:28Z")
> [@RyJae](#): > > And what does the bailout have to do with the Oath again? _I don’t believe he was asking about the bailout. What is most germane in his op is this_ \>\>\>\>“ **aren’t these people, our elected representatives SUPPOSED to do what their constituency wants them to do?** ” _I hope that answers your question._ ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-u-s-representatives-supposed-to-listen/465938/8 "2008-10-01T00:06:19Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > One of the reasons we have representative democracies in the first place is that the common Joe doesn’t have the requisite information to make informed decisions about most government policies. But he’s qualified to vote for the guy who can…exaggerate the best.🙂 The few times I’ve written to my Congresspersons, I get “I am smarter than you because” letters back. Except when they didn’t vote to quit funding the war. They were decently silent. ---
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-u-s-representatives-supposed-to-listen/465938/9 "2008-10-01T01:07:05Z")
> [@Clu-Me-In](#): > > _I don’t believe he was asking about the bailout. What is most germane in his op is this_ \>\>\>\>“ **aren’t these people, our elected representatives SUPPOSED to do what their constituency wants them to do?** ” _I hope that answers your question._ > [@](#): > > Law Encyclopedia: Representative > This entry contains information applicable to United States law only. > > An individual who stands in the place of another. > > With respect to constitutional law, a **representative is an individual chosen by the electorate to serve as its spokesperson in a legislative body** , such as the Senate or House of Representatives. Nope, can you try again possibly? ---
**Author:** ![Clu-Me-In](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-u-s-representatives-supposed-to-listen/465938/10 "2008-10-01T01:28:15Z")
A Representative is a part of the electorate, therefore he represents his conscience as well as the conscience of a body he is part of. If he does not believe in Capital punishment, he can choose to vote his conscience even if the majority of the body he represents supports Capital punishment. If the rest of the body decides that he is not doing a good enough job representing them, they can always choose to remove him or wait till his term is up and elect somebody else. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-u-s-representatives-supposed-to-listen/465938/11 "2008-10-01T01:49:39Z")
I vote for a Representative who will use his/her best judgement on the issues, not for one who will call me up and ask me on every vote what his/her position should be. If a Congressmen is only supposed to follow the whim of the majority of his district at the moment on any issue, why not just have phone-in electric voting by the district? If the district doesn’t like the way their Representative votes, well, vote him/her out the next time around. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-u-s-representatives-supposed-to-listen/465938/12 "2008-10-01T01:58:54Z")
I agree with my representative 99% of the time. I disagreed with him about the financial bill. I let him know, but that doesn’t mean I won’t vote for him again. Of course, I disagree with my Senators 99% of the time and will never vote for them. Not even the Senator who thinks he should be President. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-u-s-representatives-supposed-to-listen/465938/13 "2008-10-01T02:40:03Z")
> [@ManiacMan](#): > > Correct me if I am wrong, but aren’t these people, our elected representatives SUPPOSED to do what their constituency wants them to do? Yes and no. While I might have input with my Doctor I wouldn’t dictate surgical procedures during an operation. Politicians are hired to do a job. There is an expectation that they will follow their stated platform but they are also suppose to do what is best for their constituents. The problem with elected officials is that there are no job requirements associated with the job. Anyone can get elected and sometimes the end result is somone like Sheila Jackson Lee who thinks we landed a man on Mars. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-u-s-representatives-supposed-to-listen/465938/14 "2008-10-01T02:40:56Z")
> [@ManiacMan](#): > > Correct me if I am wrong, but aren’t these people, our elected representatives SUPPOSED to do what their constituency wants them to do? If the majority of the callers are telling a rep. that they are against a bill, _any_ bill then guess what? The representative should vote NO. Since when does it work the other way around? When the representative has significant information the callers do not, such as the actual text of the bill. I haven’t read the bill. I don’t want to read the bill; it will be long and tedious and the parts I do understand will just infuriate me. Reading bills and saving the economy is not my job; I hired someone else to do that, and pay them well. I expect a bit of initiative and self direction. I want my representative to read the bill, have a staff work up a report on the possible consequences, evaluate how those consequences will effect the nation as a whole and me personally, and decide how to vote. [I then expect my representative to go to a committee chair-person or two, express ambivalence, and see just what the vote s/he has already decided on can buy me.] ---
**Author:** ![Clu-Me-In](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-u-s-representatives-supposed-to-listen/465938/15 "2008-10-01T02:48:17Z")
> [@j666](#): > > [I then expect my representative to go to a committee chair-person or two, express ambivalence, and see just what the vote s/he has already decided on can buy me.] Some PORK, maybe?😃 ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-u-s-representatives-supposed-to-listen/465938/16 "2008-10-01T02:48:38Z")
One of my favorite film/theater moments occurs in the musical _1776_, regarding the character development of Dr. Lyman Hall, the representative from Georgia. Throughout the show, Hall is depicted as a new representative uncertain of whether to vote Yea or Nay on independence; as he puts it when the vote is called and the question is first put to him: > [@Peter Stone's book for 1776](#): > > **Dr. Lyman Hall:** Mr. President, Georgia seems to be split right down the middle on this issue - the people are against it, and I’m for it. (laughter) However, I’m afraid I’m not quite certain whether representing the people means relying on their judgment or on my own. In all fairness, until I can figure that out, I’d better lean a little on their side. (pause) Georgia says ‘nay’. Later, when the Declaration of Independence has been written and the entirity of the South has walked out in outrage over the inclusion of a line decrying slavery, Hall goes with them. John Adams refuses to budge on the issue and as a result he’s left with an empty Congress and the likelihood that his cause is in tatters. As Adams contemplates the destruction of all he fought for, Hall returns to the Congress and tells Adams that he’s changed his mind: > [@](#): > > **Dr. Lyman Hall:** I’m sorry if I startled you. I couldn’t sleep. In trying to resolve my dilemma I remembered something I’d once read that **‘a representative owes the People not only his industry, but his judgment, and he betrays them if he sacrifices it to their opinion.’** (He smiles.) It was written by Edmund Burke, a member of the British Parliament. (Hall walks to the tally board and changes his ‘nay’ vote to ‘yea’.) I believe Hall, and more to the point Burke, are right. The majority isn’t always correct, as we know, and we elect these people to use their judgment. If they don’t use that judgment in our best interests, the onus is on us to vote 'em out when the time comes. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-u-s-representatives-supposed-to-listen/465938/17 "2008-10-01T04:50:08Z")
I think that a Representative has a duty to do the best for their constituents even if it is not what they want. ---
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-u-s-representatives-supposed-to-listen/465938/18 "2008-10-01T15:20:02Z")
Isn’t that what they did on Iraq and get berated daily for? Or did the lines get moved for this? ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-u-s-representatives-supposed-to-listen/465938/19 "2008-10-01T15:34:59Z")
> [@RyJae](#): > > Isn’t that what they did on Iraq and get berated daily for? Or did the lines get moved for this? What they get berated daily for is succumbing to pressure–both from the White House and from their constituents–to make a decision that was not in the best interest of this country. If you think the Founding Fathers wanted the representatives to slavishly follow their constituents’ wishes, go pick up a copy of the Federalist Papers some day. You seem to be doing your best to turn this into a partisan thread. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-u-s-representatives-supposed-to-listen/465938/20 "2008-10-01T15:37:21Z")
> [@RyJae](#): > > Isn’t that what they did on Iraq and get berated daily for? Or did the lines get moved for this? No, they get breated for Iraq because a vast amjority of the Congress did neither. They got railroaded by an Executive Branch that was using the fear and deception to ram through an agenda that did not serve America at all and they allowed themselves to be buffaloed. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-u-s-representatives-supposed-to-listen/465938.md?page=2)