  We develop an analytical approach for non-abelian gauge models within the
plaquette representation where the plaquette matrices play the role of the
fundamental degrees of freedom. We start from the original Batrouni formulation
and show how it can be modified in such a way that each non-abelian Bianchi
identity contains two connectors instead of four. Using this representation we
construct the low-temperature expansion for U(1) and SU(N) models on a finite
lattice and discuss its uniformity in the volume. Next, we derive a dual
representation for the 't Hooft loop in the SU(2) model and describe monopoles
in the maximal axial gauge.
