A political scientist compiles data on congressional behavior and subsequent voter responses in a suburban congressional district.
Table 1: Congressional Representative Voting Record and Constituent Opinion on Bill X
| Representative | Constituent Opinion on Bill X | Representative's Vote on Bill X | Representative's Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Representative Davis | 70% Oppose | Votes YES | "My duty is to vote according to my own judgment of the national interest, even if it is unpopular here." |
| Representative Martinez | 75% Support | Votes YES | "I must act as the voice of the people who elected me, regardless of my personal views." |
Table 2: Voter Behavior in the Subsequent Election
| Voter | Action in Election | Voter's Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Voter A | Votes against Representative Davis | "I voted against Representative Davis because their tax policies directly increased my personal business's tax liability, hurting my profits." |
| Voter B | Votes for Representative Martinez | "I voted for Representative Martinez because I believe their new proposed technology training initiative will boost the local economy over the next four years." |
Based on the tables provided, which of the following correctly pairs the model of representation demonstrated by a representative with the model of voting behavior demonstrated by a voter?
- Representative Davis demonstrates the trustee model of representation, and Voter B demonstrates prospective voting.Answer
- BRepresentative Martinez demonstrates the politico model of representation, and Voter A demonstrates retrospective voting.
- CRepresentative Davis demonstrates the delegate model of representation, and Voter B demonstrates rational-choice voting.
- DRepresentative Martinez demonstrates the trustee model of representation, and Voter A demonstrates prospective voting.
Answer
Representative Davis demonstrates the trustee model of representation, and Voter B demonstrates prospective voting.
The correct answer correctly pairs Representative Davis's actions with the trustee model and Voter B's actions with prospective voting. Representative Davis exercises personal judgment to vote in the national interest despite local opposition, which is the hallmark of the trustee model. Voter B bases their vote on future expectations and the expected economic outcome of a newly proposed training initiative, which defines prospective voting.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Models of voting behavior describe the different rationales citizens use to cast their ballots, which can be analyzed alongside models of congressional representation that outline how elected officials make policy decisions.