The Framers

When members of Congress or state legislators or other elected representatives of the people go to Washington, D.C. or their state capitols, they are often accused of forgetting about the interests and concerns of the people back home. What is more often the case, however, is that representatives do not have the ability to act on their own. They must try to forward the interests and concerns of the people that voted for them in the context of a congress or state legislature in which every other representative is trying to do the same thing. In the process, difficult decisions must be made. Should a representative compromise with others to get some of what his or her constituents want? Or should a representative take an “all or nothing” approach to the legislative process? These are not easy choices, and representatives must make them on a case-by-case, vote-by-vote basis. Many of their decisions may appear, at least on the surface, to be contrary to the beliefs, attitudes, interests, and preferences of their constituents. In such instances, representatives must make the case that they did the best that they could under the circumstances. Ultimately, each representative is accountable to the people back home for the decisions they make. If the people believe their representatives are fighting for them, making good decisions, and “doing their best,” they are likely to reelect them. If not, they will probably choose someone else. Therefore, the most effective check on a member of Congress is the informed and involved voters in his or her district. Thus, it is essential that every voter educate himself or herself about the platforms and voting records of those running for office.

If politicians ignore the people, they are likely to find themselves out of a job. Informed and involved citizens will surely replace them with someone who is more responsive and interested in interacting with them in the civic process.

Not every decision made by every politician reflects the precise values and interests of the people they represent. It is impossible for participants in a representative form of government to constantly make decisions that do so.

The bottom line is that civic dialogue can be overwhelmingly broad in the topics it covers and mind-numbingly complex in its detail. In spite of the breadth and complexity of politics, the duty of every citizen is to be as informed and as involved as possible. Both individually and collectively, citizen participation assures that the voice of the people is at the heart of the nation’s civic dialogue and the political decisions that flow from it.