In this study policy congruence between parties and party voters are considered as the outcome of representation and parties representational style as the nature of representation. I examine to what extent the nature of representation explains the outcome, taking account of other relevant party attributes such as party age, incumbency, ideological party family and if the party is office seeking or not. Using data from five elections (Australia 2007, Ireland 2007, Netherlands 2006, Germany 2009 and Iceland 2009) - with 29 party dyads - I establish that parties'' style of representation does explain policy congruence between parties and party voters - as does the age of the political party (older parties are closer to their voters on policy). Policy congruence is wider when parties emphasize that an MP should follow party position when there is a conflict between the MP''s opinion and his party position. At the same time there is a closer congruence between parties that emphasize that MPs should be able to vote independently from the party position. This could indicate that the policy congruence depends on party discipline or at least on party attributes; voters are closer to parties that are clear on party policy - even if the parties apply lip service to that an MP should be able to vote independently.
