A constituency contains competing interests rather than one instruction. Members receive signals through elections, polls, meetings, organized groups, correspondence, and casework, each of which may overrepresent attentive citizens. Representing the district therefore involves judgment about whose preferences are known and how intensely they are held.

Service and policy are connected but distinct. Helping a constituent resolve a benefits problem demonstrates responsiveness and can build support without revealing how the member will vote on program funding. Likewise, securing a local project may serve geographic interests without establishing a general delegate style.

House members represent districts; senators represent entire states. National party commitments and committee roles can pull either away from a local majority on a particular vote. Evaluate the behavior described—communication, service, resource advocacy, or lawmaking—rather than assuming election automatically produces faithful policy congruence.

Video lesson: The Bicameral Congress: Crash Course Government and Politics #2