Congressperson
Encyclopedia
A Member of Congress is a term used for a politician
who has become qualified, appointed or elected, and inducted into some official body (or congress), typically to represent a particular constituency in a legislature
. In countries with a parliament
rather than a congress, the term Member of Parliament
(MP) is often used instead.
, the term Congress
refers jointly to both chambers or "houses" of that country's national bicameral legislature; the term Member of Congress there applies to members of both the upper house
Senate
and the lower
House of Representatives
. Rather than "Member of Congress", the more typical honorific
s and terms of address are "Senator" (or "U.S. Senator") and "Representative" (or "U.S. Representative"). In the United States, U.S. Representatives are sometimes referred to by the terms Congressman, Congresswoman and Congressperson; the terms are a bit ambiguous, since technically, Senators are congressmen/congresswomen, too.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who has become qualified, appointed or elected, and inducted into some official body (or congress), typically to represent a particular constituency in a legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
. In countries with a parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
rather than a congress, the term Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) is often used instead.
United States
In the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the term Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
refers jointly to both chambers or "houses" of that country's national bicameral legislature; the term Member of Congress there applies to members of both the upper house
Upper house
An upper house, often called a senate, is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house; a legislature composed of only one house is described as unicameral.- Possible specific characteristics :...
Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
and the lower
Lower house
A lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house.Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide the lower house has come to wield more power...
House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. Rather than "Member of Congress", the more typical honorific
Honorific
An honorific is a word or expression with connotations conveying esteem or respect when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term is used not quite correctly to refer to an honorary title...
s and terms of address are "Senator" (or "U.S. Senator") and "Representative" (or "U.S. Representative"). In the United States, U.S. Representatives are sometimes referred to by the terms Congressman, Congresswoman and Congressperson; the terms are a bit ambiguous, since technically, Senators are congressmen/congresswomen, too.
See also
- Member of ParliamentMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
- National AssemblyNational AssemblyNational Assembly is either a legislature, or the lower house of a bicameral legislature in some countries. The best known National Assembly, and the first legislature to be known by this title, was that established during the French Revolution in 1789, known as the Assemblée nationale...
- United States CongressUnited States CongressThe United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
- United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
- United States SenateUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
- United States House of Representatives