political representation + pressure groups

political representation

• foundational concept in democratic theory + practice

• involves electing individuals to act + decisions on behalf of people

• reps must voice constituents vs + vs within exec + leg branches of govt

• makes govt. accountable to execution of people’s will

models of political representation

• delegate model

  • representatives are to act strictly according to constituents wishes

• trustee model

  • representatives use their judgement to make decisions they believe are in the best interests of their constituents

• partisan model

practical implications of models of political representation

• Westminster context in which parliamentarians operate limits ideal theories of PR

• leads to the creation of political parties to organise + unite different groups

partisan model

• most Australian parliamentarians are members of a political party (partisans)

• partisan MPs blend TM + DM within their parties while acting as united blocs between parties

• enables balance between representation of constituents + realities of modern govt (eg. forming stable majority in lower house)

Australian political parties

• ALP

• Liberal Party of Australia

• Nationals

• Greens

• Pauline Hanson’s One Nation

ALP

• founded in 1890s by trade unions

• offers significant participation opportunities for supporters

• advocated for govt intervention + wealth distribution in early years

• strict party discipline

• est. free healthcare (MediBank) under Whitlam Govt 72-75

liberals

• formed 1944

• less strict party discipline than ALP

• ideologies of individual enterprise + decreased govt. intervention

• older policies supported social welfare

• modern policies have been increasingly economically conservative

• broad range of social values can result in internal conflicts
  

the nationals

• 1920s

• represented views of rural Australia

• aim for govt intervention to support farmers but with market based economies for all other sectors

• always been in coalition with liberals but sometimes tensions

• included in ministry when Coalition forms govt —> only minor party to hold portfolios in executive

• provide strong representation for rural communities

greens

• born out of environmental + anti-war values in 1990s

• mostly young, educated, urban + middle-class voters

• concerned about ecological stability

• not many seats in HoR but large presence in Senate

major parties

• offer clear + easy options @ elections

• used to be ~ 70% voting for major parties but has declined in recent times

• electors don’t have to know individual candidates, can choose party they believe will uphold their views

• partisan representatives simplify electoral choice

multi-party system

• has wide range of political choice in Australia

• has pragmatic centre

  • where most electors tend to vote + 2 parties need to ideologically locate themselves to win enough support to form govt.

• representation enhances political representation

  • voters have more political choice

  • high probability that a party will offer the representation that suits any person