ABSTRACT
Under the broad theme of representation, this chapter explores the first major aspect of parliamentary institutionalization considered in this study - the relationships between the Czech and Slovak parliaments and the electorate. The particular form in which these relationships become institutionalized in any political system depends on many formal and informal practices and is therefore difficult to depict precisely. Parliamentarians may see themselves as representatives of a nation or of local communities, as policy-makers or as representatives of organized groups. They may see themselves as trustees or delegates. These perceptions or role models can overlap in practice and, moreover, cannot be understood without examining a range of political institutions involved, be that the electoral system or the nature of parties and party systems.
