Representation

by J. Roland Pennock

This volume, offers the thought of twenty scholars on the theory, history, and practice of representation. Two developments make a new appraisal of this subject timely. One is the decision of the United States Supreme Court requiring representation to be democratic in the sense of affording every voter an equal voice in government. The other, that some governments that are not democratic in the sense of having freely competitive political parties are now nevertheless "representative." A number of essays in this volume deal with the problems of equitable apportionment of representation from the point of view of constitutional law, normative theory, and practical politics. Two take up the proposal of weighted voting as a means for meeting the Supreme Court's objectives, and two others inquire into the meaning of representation under noncompetitive party systems.Combining an overview of the subject with a detailed analysis of its various aspects, this book presents information of major significance for all engaged in the study of political processes, comparative politics, constitutional law, political theory, and legislative behavior. The general reader of politics and political and legal philosophy will find here a clear vision and explication of the theoretical and practical background and the underpinnings of representative government.J. Roland Pennock was professor of political science at Swarthmore College for more than twenty-five years, as well as a fellow at the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.John W. Chapman is professor emeritus of political science at the University of Pittsburgh.

336 pages, Hardcover

First published October 9, 2006

About the author

Dr. J. Roland Pennock (1906-1995) was Richter Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Swarthmore College, his alma mater, where he taught from 1929 until his retirement in 1976. He served as chairman of the department of political science for 39 years and was a visiting professor at Harvard and Columbia Universities, the University of Minnesota and the University of California at San Diego.

He was a past president of the American Society for Political and Legal Theory and a principal editor of its annual Nomos series, published by New York University Press.

Reviews

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few if the essays are out-dated, but others remain important - which says something about the state of representation jurisprudence. (Spoiler alert - it's poor). All around one of the best books on the topic I have found.