resident commissioner
Definition
- Noun:
- A non-voting representative: A Resident Commissioner is an elected official who represents a U.S. territory in the United States House of Representatives. This individual can draft legislation, serve on committees, and debate on the House floor but does not have a vote on final passage of legislation.
Usage
- The term is used as a formal title for a specific elected office.
- It is always capitalized when referring to the specific officeholder.
Examples
- Noun:
- The Resident Commissioner advocated for increased disaster relief funding for the territory.
- She was elected as the new Resident Commissioner.
Advanced Usage
- The office of Resident Commissioner is established by federal statute for specific territories. Historically, the position has existed for territories like the Philippines (when it was a U.S. territory) and Puerto Rico.
- While the most common contemporary reference is to Puerto Rico's representative, the title itself denotes a specific type of congressional representation for an insular area.
Variants and Related Words
- Commissioner (n): A person appointed to a commission or a public office. A broader term.
- Delegate (n): Another type of non-voting representative in the U.S. House, such as those from Washington, D.C., Guam, etc. Similar in function but with a different title.
Synonyms
- Non-voting representative: A general term describing the function.
- Territorial representative: A descriptive synonym.
Related Phrases
- Office of the Resident Commissioner: The official administrative body supporting the commissioner.
- Resident Commissioner-elect: The individual who has been elected but not yet sworn into the office.
Noun
-
the representative of Puerto Rico in the United States House of Representatives
