Territorial Delegates to the U.S. Congress: Current Issues and Historical Background (CRS Report for Congress)
Premium Purchase PDF for $24.95 (22 pages)
add to cart or
subscribe for unlimited access
Pro Premium subscribers have free access to our full library of CRS reports.
Subscribe today, or
request a demo to learn more.
| Release Date |
July 6, 2006 |
| Report Number |
RL32340 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Betsy Palmer, Government and Finance Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
Territorial Delegates have served in the House since the late 1700s, representing territories that
had
not yet achieved statehood. In the 20th Century, the concept of Delegate grew to include
representation of territories where the United States exercises some degree of control but which were
not expected to become states.
Currently, the U.S. insular areas of American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and the federal
municipality of the District of Columbia are each represented in Congress by a Delegate to the House
of Representatives. The individual elected to represent Puerto Rico is called the Resident
Commissioner instead of delegate. The Delegates and Resident Commissioner are the successors
of Delegates from statehood-bound territories, who first took seats in the House in the late 1700s.
Proposals offered in recent Congresses have sought to grant the Delegate from
the District of
Columbia voting rights on the floor of the House. Another proposal would expand territorial
representation to include the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Floor action in the
House and Senate on these bills could occur before the end of the 109th Congress.
Early laws providing for territorial Delegates to Congress did not specify the duties, privileges,
and obligations of these representatives. It was left to the House and the Delegates themselves to
define their role. On January 13, 1795, the House took an important step toward establishing the
functions of Delegates when it appointed James White, the first territorial representative, to
membership on a select committee. In subsequent years, Delegates continued to serve on select
committees as well as on conference committees. The first fixed assignment of a Delegate to
standing committee occurred under a House rule of 1871, which gave Delegates places as additional
members on two standing committees. In these committees, the Delegates exercised the same
powers and privileges as in the House; that is, they could debate but not vote.
In the 1970s, Delegates gained the right to be elected to standing committees and to exercise
in those committees the same powers and privileges as Members of the House, including the right
to vote. Today, Delegates enjoy powers, rights, and responsibilities identical, in most respects, to
those of House Members from the states. Like these Members, Delegates can speak and introduce
bills and resolutions on the House floor; and they can speak and vote in House committees.
Delegates are not, however, full-fledged Members of Congress. Most significantly, they cannot vote
on the House floor.
This report builds on earlier reports on territorial delegates prepared by former colleagues,
Andorra Bruno and the late William H. Tansill, and also benefitted from the production assistance
of Daphne Bigger. Paul Rundquist was a major contributor to this report. This report will be updated
as events warrant.
