Declarative Power, Representation, and Mandate. A Formal Analysis

This paper provides a formal framework for developing the idea of normative co-ordination. This idea is based on the assumption that agents can achieve flexible co-ordination by conferring normative positions to other agents. These positions include duties, permissions, and powers. In particular, we introduce the idea of declarative power, i.e. the capacity of the power-holder of creating normative positions by simply “proclaiming” such positions. We account also for the concepts of representation – the representative’s capacity of acting in the name of his principal –, and mandate – the mandatee’s duty to act as the mandator has requested.