Final answer:
Descriptive representation is the reflection of constituents' demographic characteristics in their representatives, such as ethnicity and gender. It promotes political trust and contributes to policy debates, but it may not always align with constituents' substantive interests.
Step-by-step explanation:
Descriptive representation refers to the idea that elected officials should mirror the demographic characteristics of the people they represent, such as class, race, ethnicity, and gender. This form of representation is about ensuring that the diversity of a population is reflected in its legislative bodies. While it brings about increased political trust amongst historically marginalized groups and can influence the quality of policy debates in Congress, some argue that it may not always align with constituents' interests. For example, an African American legislator elected from a majority Black district primarily represents descriptive representation. This increases the political trust within the community and contributes to political engagement and the quality of policy debates regarding issues pertinent to the community.
A clear example of descriptive representation is a Latino politician elected from a heavily Latina/Latino district, as this reflects the demographic makeup of the constituency. However, descriptive representation does not necessarily equate to substantive representation, which focuses on a representative's actions and the policies they support. Thus, debates continue on how to balance descriptive and substantive representation to best serve the interests of all constituents.