The link between representatives and constituencies is a vital part of the political life in every democracy. In most countries citizens’ votes are clustered in electoral districts, and political representatives are to varying degrees accountable to the districts (constituencies) that elected them.

So, How do MPs behave in their home constituency? How do MPs use the parliamentary floor to cater to districts’ interests? How are recruitment and post-assignment in parliament used to connect with constituencies? Which factors explain differences in constituency-focus? These are some of the questions that animate the project HOME.

The analysis unfolds in the context of a Small-N comparative study including Ghana and South Africa. These are two of the most established democracies in Africa, with remarkable records of free and fair elections and highly institutionalized party systems. However, they have important institutional and contextual differences that make the comparative empirical analysis of constituency service relevant.

The project applies an ambitious mixed methods research strategy that combines different types of quantitative (surveys, MPs’ biographies, parliamentary activity) and qualitative (documental research, interviews) data to answer the research questions and test different set of hypotheses.