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Representation

Definition

Representation refers to the act of having someone speak or act on behalf of a group of people. In the context of government, it means that individuals are elected or appointed to represent and voice the concerns and interests of a specific constituency or population.

Analogy

Think of representation like a student council in your high school. The student council members are chosen by their peers to represent their interests and concerns when making decisions about school policies, events, and issues.

Related terms

Suffrage: Suffrage is the right to vote in political elections. It plays a crucial role in ensuring fair representation as it allows citizens to choose representatives who will advocate for their needs.

Gerrymandering: Gerrymandering is the manipulation of electoral district boundaries with the intention of giving one political party an advantage over others. It can impact representation by favoring certain groups or diluting the voting power of others.

Proportional representation: Proportional representation is an electoral system where seats in parliament are allocated according to the proportion of votes each political party receives. This system aims to provide more accurate representation by reflecting voters' preferences more accurately than winner-takes-all systems.