We examine how descriptive representation, formal representation, and responsiveness
affect the legitimacy of political decisions: Who are the representatives, how are they …

In the first comparative study of multidimensional government‐citizen policy congruence, this
article shows that citizens are less satisfied with democracy when their views differ from that …

Middle-aged to senior men of the ethnic majority and higher income groups are generally
overrepresented in parliaments. While research on group representation has examined …

The study of representation is a major research field in quantitative political science. Since
the early 2000s, it has been accompanied by a range of important conceptual innovations by …

Being born in Italy (being Italian is different, and I never completely understood what it really
means) has had some influence, albeit involuntarily, on my political and cultural education …

Abstract The US House of Representatives has one of the oldest pools of politicians in the
world today: the average member of the House is 58 years at the time of their election, which …

While support for the essential norms of liberal electoral democracy is high in almost all
developed democracies, there is arguably also a gap between democratic aspirations and …

While a large literature interrogates the causes and consequences of declining political trust
in democracies, considerably less work has considered the everyday leadership strategies …

The call for more direct democracy, and referenda in particular, is often heard and met with
support from large numbers of citizens in many countries. This article explores the motives …

Social media have the potential to transform democracies as they allow for direct contact
between representatives and represented. Politicians can use social media to show their …