Representation is an amalgam of concepts, one of which--misrepresentation--remains unexamined. Misrepresentation occurs when representation fails and a representative acts contrary to a citizen's preference.
     Congressional representation is most often measured by a degree of substantive issue congruency between a House member and either the district or some other group (e.g., women, Blacks, Latinos). A measure of misrepresentation between a House member and an individual citizen would deepen our understanding of representation in the United States. This study takes a first look at misrepresented citizens, estimating their proportion, their political nature, and their demography.
     With survey data from the 1982 ANES four broad policy areas are analyzed. Measures of perceived proximity of the incumbent to the respondent are used to identify misrepresented individuals. A logit model is estimated. The results suggest that one's disposition toward the incumbent and their incumbent's party explain a propensity for misrepresentation. In addition, females of more extreme ideology are more likely to be misrepresented. Race, attention paid to politics, and degree of external efficacy did not change the likelihood that someone feels misrepresented