Representative Duty Quotes

A President is not elected to do as he pleases. He is elected to do as the people please.

Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays instead of serving you if he sacrifices it to your opinion.

Every senator needs to stand up and represent their constituents - not big business, not the ACLU, not activist groups, not political interests, but the American interests, the workers' interests.

If elected, I shall consider the whole people of Sangamon my constituents, as well those that oppose as those that support me. While acting as their representative I shall be governed by their will on all subjects upon which I have the means of knowing what their will is.

It has ever been my opinion that the electors have a right to instruct their members. For my part, I shall always think it my duty in Parliament to be guided by your counsels and instructions. I shall consider myself the servant of my constituents, not their master—subservient to their will, not superior to it.

If you're a representative, you listen to your constituents, and then you go vote their conscience. You don't go vote your special interest buddies' interest and then come back and justify it.

I always try to keep my constituents as up-to-date as possible with what's going on here in Washington.

Serving in Congress is the great honor of my professional life. I am deeply grateful to the people of the 4th Congressional District for placing their trust in me.

Having been in Congress, you know that's part of our responsibility the constituent has a problem, We're supposed to write back and say, 'Well I can't do anything' That's not what they elect you for.

I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are not looking out for the best interests of my constituents and our country.

They [Congressmen] may ... consult and prefer the interests of their particular constituents when they come in conflict with any other particular or local interest, yet it is their first or highest duty, as representatives of the United States, to promote the general good.

THE representatives of the good people of this commonwealth in general assembly convened, having maturely considered the answers of sundry states in the Union, to their resolutions passed at the last session, respecting certain unconstitutional laws of Congress, commonly called the alien and sedition laws, would be faithless indeed to themselves, and to those they represent, were they silently to acquiesce….

It is a duty of those entrusted with the administration of their affairs to conform themselves to the decided choice of their constituents.

Members of Congress often have to have testimony to hang their hat on if they wish to do something for you or do something for the country.

If I started worrying about how my constituents are going to react to every move I make, I wouldn't be able to do my job here. I'll do what I think is right and explain it later.

No member shall be bound upon questions involving a construction of the Constitution of the United States or upon which he made contrary pledges to his constituents prior to his election or received contrary instructions by resolutions or platform from his nominating authority.

I have never used my office for anything other than the purpose in which I hold it - to represent the people who sent me to Washington.

People get Washington-ized a lot of times, being down there for awhile, and forget that we're called members of the House of Representatives because we're meant to represent people.

I decided there was nothing in Washington as important as one constituent, and I dropped everything when one called.

The reality of going before the voters and seeking election should force Congressmen to behave.

When ... the interests of the people are at variance with their inclinations, it is the duty of the persons they have appointed to be the guardians of those interests, to withstand the temporary delusion, in order to give them time and opportunity for more cool and sedate reflection.

For me, there's nothing more important than serving my constituents and winning the House.

I never think of playing for South Africa. It's the furthest thing from my mind.

For many members of Congress, the time for choosing is near - do what the party leadership demands, or do what the people have asked you to do. If my colleagues don't mind some advice from a newcomer, I'd suggest going with the will of the people.

Serving my neighbors in Congress and fighting for them has been the best job I've ever had.