Constituency

A constituency is the geographic area or population represented by an elected official. It defines who the official is chosen to represent and answer to.

Electoral district: A geographic area whose residents elect one or more representatives. Many constituencies are defined as electoral districts with fixed boundaries.
First-past-the-post voting: An electoral system in which the candidate with the most votes wins a district seat. In this system, each constituency usually elects one representative.
At-large election: An election in which representatives are chosen by voters across an entire jurisdiction rather than separate districts. At-large elections contrast with systems that assign each voter to a local constituency.
Constituent service: Assistance an elected official or staff provides to people represented by that official. Local casework is a direct way representatives respond to constituency needs.
Voter: A person eligible to cast a ballot in an election. Constituents who can vote help choose their representative.
Proportional representation: An electoral system that allocates seats to parties in proportion to their share of votes. Some proportional systems represent larger multi-member constituencies rather than single districts.
Multi-member district: An electoral district that chooses more than one representative. It contrasts with a constituency that elects a single representative.
Descriptive representation: Representation in which elected officials share characteristics such as gender, ethnicity, or social background with constituents. The makeup of a constituency shapes debates about whether its representative reflects its population.
Elected representative: A person selected by voters to hold public office and represent them. The representative holds office on behalf of a constituency.
Apportionment: The allocation of legislative seats among regions or populations. Apportionment determines how many representatives different populations receive.

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