Dynamic representation implies a system in which the public's political demands produce a quick and palpable response in the institutions of national government. By the usual standards of representative democracy, this is evidence for good democratic government. In this chapter, we wish to push further by examining the governing system more closely – in a theoretically ambitious way. We extend the argument to a more rigorous measure of fundamental policy change (rather than Policy Activity) and thus further strengthen the dynamic representation story. Equally important, we close the loop by exploring the way that the public adjusts its political demands according to the changing nature of governmental policy. In a real sense, we outline the character of a governing system in which the public and the politicians act and react to each other to produce an evolving public policy that suits both the public's tastes and its view of real-world circumstances.

The previous chapter depicted dynamic representation in terms of observable political actions. By taking positions, casting roll calls, filing briefs, and engaging in other visible behavior, national political leaders respond promptly to public opinion. It should be clear, however, that such actions are not the same as government policy. At best, the kinds of actions we have examined correspond approximately to the sum of actual policies that affect people's lives. At worst, these actions could be but a political sideshow of opportunistic posturing, quite independent of real policy making. We must move from action to policy.