We have discussed how elected officials (as agents) often attempt to represent “the people” (as their primary  principle)  through  models  of  trustee  and/or  delegate  representation.  Balancing  these  two competing visions of representation, however, can be chal lenging. Consider the following. Political

leaders  have  an  incentive  to  reflect  the  interests  of  their  constituents  because  their  offices  are connected  to  popular  elections.  In  addition,  representative  democracy  itself  seems  to  imply  that elected officials  should carry out the will of those who elected them. However, research shows that
most Americans are politically uniformed and/or apathetic about politics. These findings raise some challenges as well. For instance, we might ask whether politicians should  reflect the interests of the people when their constituents may not fully comprehend their own interests? In addition, we might
also  ask  whether  a  country  made  up  of  uninformed  and  apathetical  citizens  is  truly  capable  of democratic governance?

With these questions and concerns in mind, which model of representation, in your assessment, is best suited to meet the needs and demands of the American population? Make sure to analyze each model of representation and discuss both their strengths and weaknesses.