Some believe that legislators should act as __________ who use their best judgment to make policy in the interests of the people.

• A. Delegates
• B. Trustees
• C. Partisans
• D. Politicos

Answer: (B)

This question tests the trustee model of representation. In this view, legislators act as trustees who use their own informed judgment to make policy that serves the public good, even if that means voting against the immediate wishes of constituents when long-term interests or expert analysis call for it. The idea is that representatives bring experience, knowledge, and deliberation to weigh trade-offs and consider consequences beyond popular short-term preferences.

That’s why the option describing legislators as trustees is the best fit: it emphasizes acting on informed judgment for the public’s best interests rather than simply mirroring constituents’ immediate desires (delegate), following party loyalty (partisan), or blending approaches (politico).