Representation

Definition

Representation refers to the act of speaking or acting on behalf of someone. In the context of US history, it often refers to citizens electing officials to represent their interests in government.

Related terms

Suffrage: The right to vote in political elections. It's like choosing who will be on your student council.

Constituency: A body of voters in a specified area who elect a representative to a legislative body. This is similar to all the students in your grade level who are eligible to vote for student council members.

Direct Democracy: A form of government where citizens decide on laws directly, rather than through representatives. Imagine if instead of having a student council, every single decision at school was made by an all-student vote.