Introduction
The concept of representation is based on the idea that the United States is a democratic nation, where democracy is depicted in the representation of her people in the House of Congress. However, it has been hard to tell the kind of representation in such a democratic society. Whether the majority of the citizen’s wishes are represented and presented before the House of the Representatives act on their wishes and those of their Congress leaders will be analyzed in this paper.
Main Body
Over time, the aspect of representation in the House of Congress has lacked reality. This statement is made within the premises of class and occupational representation. According to James and Dilulio (p. 231), all classes and occupations need to be represented in the House, but this idea of “full” representation will remain visionary and out of touch since it can only be provided for by the Constitution. Even with the constitutional provision, it will lack a practical touch. With this in mind, it can easily be argued that representation of this nature will make the most complex Congress America has ever had. If, for instance, each class and occupation should be represented, a lot of issues will arise from this. First, the wealthy in the society will be at the forefront to “guard” their interests when at the same time the poor majority in the American society will be demanding an ear. Second, several crises will be created based on interests, and this will stall government and even Congress activities.
On the other hand, the question of minority and majority districts has been part of this argument about representation. This mainly revolves around the demography of different districts and states, where Representatives are voted in depending on the size of the district or state. The question as to whether Representatives have to share features of the majority of the constituency becomes central. As put by Smith and Hamilton, the majority-minority district is a discriminatory kind of representation, where not the wishes of many constituents are represented. This type of representation is descriptive but still soars higher and higher, suppressing the interests and wishes of the majority that require substantive representation in the House of Congress.
Further, a glimpse at the Senate of the 1950s and 1960s shows that those who were elected into the Senate created a niche for themselves, making a wall between them and the public that elected them. This was always based on conservative ideologies and any individual who would be welcome into their niche must first pass the test of loyalty. This is not the kind of representation the American Society needs, but which, unfortunately, partly manifests itself in the Congress today. A descriptive representation does not have the interests of the public at heart but instead pursues its interests. On the other hand, a substantive representation is “actual” in its attempt to represent the feelings and interests of the public.
Scrutiny at the manner of representation and way of election into the House of Representatives reveals a horrendous scene, where the poor majorities are not truly represented. By the virtue that every citizen of America has a right to be heard is enough to provide a leveled ground on which the interests of the citizens will be heard, regardless of their classes, birth, or material possession. Congress is a common entity of every American and, therefore, must satisfy the interests of every American. It is without argument that the House of Representatives must be made of men and women of dignity who are ready to safeguard the interests of their people without compromising the rights and interests of other citizens. However, with their entry into the House, these men and women turn their back against the public as they pursue their different and selfish ideologies and policies.
Conclusion
The concept of representation, as noted in the earlier pages, has been a jinx in the minds of the American people. This is because of the pattern of election into the House of Representatives, where the interests of the majority Americans are compromised by the very men and women who are elected into the House by the majority. It was further noted that, over time, the question of class and occupational representation has brought a complex situation on the matter of representation, where not all the classes and occupations have had an equal chance into the House. However, this will be a difficult ideology to execute, since many crises and issues are bound to arise out of this. But, even with every American grappling with this question, it should be noted that for a truly democratic American society, the interests of both the majority and the minority must meet a leveled ground and receive equal attention. This, in itself, is the substantive representation that is craved for by every voter in America.
Works Cited
James, Wilson and Dilulio, John. American Government: The Essentials, 12th Ed. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage, 2011.