Is it an elected official's job to

[TruthIsOutThere]

1. Vote the exact will of his constituents. If 51 percent oppose PROP HYPO, must he oppose PROP HYPO.

OR

2. Vote in the best interest of his constituents regardless of constituent will. Of course in this scenario, he has to worry about reelection more, so if 90 percent of his constituents staunchly oppose PROP HYPO - he has to tread lightly here and maybe spend time educating and convincing his people before giving a yes to PROP HYPO.

I think government was originally set up with option 2 - (best interest) in mind rather than a direct mirror of popular opinion.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

 

[volinbham]

I would think it's #2; an apt description of our elected officials.

 

[golfballs]

#2

 

[droski]

best interest. if his constituents disagree they can feel free to vote him out of office.

 

[JZVOL]

The number one job of an elected official is to get re-elected.

 

[hohenfelsvol]

Spend money

Or at least that seems like what the current administration thinks

 

[Cdywolfe]

The number one job of an elected official is to get re-elected.

Ding Ding Ding
Posted via VolNation Mobile

 

[RespectTradition]

Depends on the context.

In the original separation/balance of powers, the different parts of government had different jobs.

1) the President's job during the 'legislative' phase is to represent the country's interests via his exercise of the veto power. his job after a law has passed is to impartially execute (hence, the executive branch) the laws of the land. Like an executor of a will or contract.

2) the House's job is to represent the interests of the people of his district to the best of his judgment. we elect them to exercise that judgment, not bow to our own. if we disapprove of their judgment, we vote the jerks out.

3) the Senate's job is to represent the interests of the states to the best of their judgment. this has been somewhat hampered by the passage of the 17th amendment and that has led to the vast expansion of the national government over the federal government that we are supposed to have.

4) the Supreme Court's job is the opposite of all of the rest. it's job is to represent the minority voice so that the majorities represented by the other three groups can't be abused. they are answerable only to their own consciences, else they could not represent the minority.

supposedly.