Abstract
The role of local governments has recently increased in importance, and as reforms and restructuring of their functions have revealed, the concept of “representation and participation” is coming into prominence.” Notably, the representation of local communities within the decisions is mainly taken on behalf of society gained importance. The city councils, which are under the focal scope of our study, are the ones constituted by "local representatives" being elected by local communities and responsible for protecting the rights of society. The acknowledgement of representatives by society, the representatives' own recognition of society and also representing issue emerged as important determinants so that the function of representation might materialize as effective. This study examined the represent ability of city council members in Turkey within the case of Kahramanmaraş Province in Turkey. Hence, the profile of all city council members was presented, and then the views and approaches of them were discussed. The elicited approaches and views which belong to the members were mainly probed within the frame of "represent ability of city council members".