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At a township meeting a citizen told the trustee that he was elected to represent the people and vote the way the majority wanted and the trustee stated that he was elected to do what "he thought was best" for the people.

Where can I find written information to support the citizen? Or is the trustee right?

2006-11-08 22:50:46 · 11 answers · asked by kate 1 in Politics & Government Law & Ethics

11 answers

Neither is correct. It is just the personal philosophy of each official.

2006-11-08 22:54:21 · answer #1 · answered by TrainerMan 5 · 0 0

Both positions are correct. The politician is elected to represent the people and he ignores them at his peril. On the other hand, they elect him to make good decisions on their behalf because they can't be fully informed on every issue that comes up. So it's a delicate balance. It's up to the politician to show the voters that his decision is a wise one; and it's up to the voters to vote him out of office if they don't like the sum total of his work.

Besides, who is to say that the voters at that meeting actually represent the majority view of the voters in that town? Perhaps the politician has a better sense of what the majority wants than they do.

2006-11-09 07:52:02 · answer #2 · answered by AnOrdinaryGuy 5 · 1 0

Politicians do what they think is best for the people... and if you want the Government to do what every citizens do what is best for them, go for the referendum. It would be a matter of "yes and no".

For supporting the citizens the way you want it to be, referendum should be in every election time and the topic should be what the politicians are politicizing. But for your direct answer to the question you've asked... go to the politicians.

2006-11-09 06:59:35 · answer #3 · answered by wacky_racer 5 · 0 0

I'm not going to say which one was right and which one was wrong.

Every elected official swears to do specific things when they first take the office that they hold. Find out what the Oath of Office says that the individual took at the beginning of his term. You should get your answer there.

2006-11-09 07:27:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

In the constitution and the laws of goverment elected officials are sworn to uphold the will of the people. As long as their wants are grounded in law. i.e. if "the people" all want a crack house open 24 hrs in their neighborhood, the official should not do it.

2006-11-09 06:55:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

They have to do what's best for the people. Imagine a reforendom on "should there be taxes?" or "let's replace the judicial system with 6 truckers with baseball bats".

2006-11-09 06:55:26 · answer #6 · answered by foogill 4 · 0 0

They are suppose to represent the VIEWS of the people, not do thir own will. This would then be a dictatorship.

2006-11-09 07:01:19 · answer #7 · answered by WC 7 · 0 0

Ideally, we are supposed to be a government of, by, and for the people; they should do what the majority of the people want. As for your other question, check the U.S. Constitution.

2006-11-09 06:56:06 · answer #8 · answered by grandm 6 · 0 1

They are supposed to do what the people want, but sometimes they do what they think is best for the people.

2006-11-09 06:56:01 · answer #9 · answered by no nickname 6 · 0 0

Now that they are into power they can do what they want.

2006-11-09 07:28:40 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

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