Pros & Cons of Representative Democracy

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Advantages of representative democracy

Representative democracy can mean that decisions are made with expertise, represent the voting public, are practical, and decision-makers are held accountable.

Expertise

Representatives are better informed to make important political decisions as they often have greater expertise and knowledge than most of the population.
The public can be educated on public policy and current political issues.

Representation

Representatives can make sure that all in society are accounted for.
- Representatives can protect the interests of minority groups better than the majority of the population can when voting.
Representatives can put together the interests and demands of voters and make policy proposals that work best for everyone.
- Voters in direct democracies may have lots of different demands and difficulty comes when those decisions have to be enacted.

Accountability

The public and institutions can hold representatives accountable for their decisions.
- In direct democracies, it is harder to hold the people as a whole accountable.

Practicality

Citizens cannot be expected to always make decisions and so the election of representatives acting on their behalf is more practical and beneficial.

Disadvantages of Representative Democracy

Representative democracy can have some disadvantages, such as the exclusion of minorities, the limited accountability of representatives and when representatives don't act in the public's interest.

Low participation levels

If few people participate in the election of representatives, the representatives will not accurately reflect those they represent in parliament.
- Turnout for EU Parliament elections in the UK was 35.6% in 2014 and as a result, more marginal and radical parties have seats.
- UKIP won 26.6% of the UK popular vote in the European Parliament, but at the 2015 general election only won 12.6% of the vote.

Inaccurate representation

A parliament may not have descriptive representation (where the representatives share characteristics with their constituents).
- 29% of MPs are privately educated, but only 7% of the UK is.
A parliament may not have substantive representation (where the representatives advocate on behalf of certain groups).
- David Cameron pushed through legislation to legalise gay marriage in the UK, despite not being gay.
It can be argued that a parliament needs to have both types to truly represent.

Self-interest

Representatives may choose to act in their own best interest, or in the best interest of a select few constituents, rather than all of them.

Delegates vs trustees

Representatives can either act as delegates, and express the view of those they represent, or as trustees.
Representatives acting as trustees have more freedom to choose actions they think will be best for their constituents.
If a representative is acting as a trustee, but voters wish for them to be a delegate, they may not be accurately representing the wishes of their voters.