A Constituency M. P. and His Local Community: A Case Study

Abstract

Little is known about the working relationships Members of Parliament form with local elected and permanent officials in their constituencies. This is a case study of one constituency based on interviews of a sample of district and country councilors, local officers, party agents and activists, as well as the Member himself. Several observations are made in this study. First, lines of cooperation in this constituency were much more partisan than is typically found in the United States. Second, the Member must apparently maintain a careful balance between fostering good relations with local bureaucrats in order to obtain their cooperation and being their critic in order to claim credit. Lastly, an increase in the constituency orientation of one candidate seems to lead to an increase in the constituency orientation of the other. Candidates can apparently be locked into a high level of constituency service by the expectations they build among constituents.

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