Definition
There are two types of representation – descriptive or passive representative refers to the level of similarity in descriptive characteristics, such as one’s race, between bureaucrats or politicians and their constituents, while substantive or active representation refers to whether bureaucrats or politicians pursue the interests of their constituents.
Introduction
Representation is a foundational component of democracy and a key piece of the processes of governance and administration. The percent of racial minorities – members of the public who identify Black, American Indian/Alaska native, Asian, and nonwhite Hispanics – is growing. According to the US Census Bureau in 2010, nearly 74 % of America’s population were White, 14 % were Black, nearly 2 % identified as American Indian/Alaska native,...
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Wright, K. (2016). Power and Minority Representation. In: Farazmand, A. (eds) Global Encyclopedia of Public Administration, Public Policy, and Governance. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31816-5_2524-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31816-5_2524-1
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