Shadow congressperson
Encyclopedia
The offices of shadow U.S. Representative and shadow U.S. Senator are elective offices created by the District of Columbia
as part of their efforts to gain full admittance to the Union as a State. The office originated with the election of the first Shadow Senators in 1796, and the position of Shadow US Representative first appeared in 1956 in the Territory of Alaska. The name was based on the traditional practice of the Official Opposition appointing shadow cabinet
s in parliamentary system
s.
The shadow senators for the 110th United States Congress
(2007–2009) are Paul Strauss
and Michael D. Brown
.
DC's Shadow U.S. Representative should not be confused with the non-voting
delegate that represents the District in Congress.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
as part of their efforts to gain full admittance to the Union as a State. The office originated with the election of the first Shadow Senators in 1796, and the position of Shadow US Representative first appeared in 1956 in the Territory of Alaska. The name was based on the traditional practice of the Official Opposition appointing shadow cabinet
Shadow Cabinet
The Shadow Cabinet is a senior group of opposition spokespeople in the Westminster system of government who together under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition form an alternative cabinet to the government's, whose members shadow or mark each individual member of the government...
s in parliamentary system
Parliamentary system
A parliamentary system is a system of government in which the ministers of the executive branch get their democratic legitimacy from the legislature and are accountable to that body, such that the executive and legislative branches are intertwined....
s.
Shadow Senator
The voters of the District of Columbia elect two shadow senators who are known as U.S. senators by the District of Columbia, but who are not officially sworn or seated by the U.S. Senate. Shadow senators were first elected in 1990.The shadow senators for the 110th United States Congress
110th United States Congress
The One Hundred Tenth United States Congress was the meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, between January 3, 2007, and January 3, 2009, during the last two years of the second term of President George W. Bush. It was composed of the Senate and the House of...
(2007–2009) are Paul Strauss
Paul Strauss
Paul Eric Strauss is a shadow senator from the District of Columbia.-Political career:As a non-voting representative to the United States Senate, Strauss lobbies the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives on behalf of the citizens of D.C...
and Michael D. Brown
Michael D. Brown (Washington Politician)
Michael Donald Brown is a shadow senator from the District of Columbia.As a shadow senator, Brown receives no pay from the government, receives no budget from the government, and cannot vote on matters before the Senate. While he does not have an office in the United States Senate, the Government...
.
List of District of Columbia Senators (Seat 1)
- Florence PendletonFlorence PendletonFlorence H. Pendleton is a former shadow senator from the District of Columbia.-Political career:* November 6, 1990 — elected shadow senator when office was created* November 8, 1994 — reelected shadow senator...
(D), 1991–2006 - Michael D. BrownMichael D. Brown (Washington Politician)Michael Donald Brown is a shadow senator from the District of Columbia.As a shadow senator, Brown receives no pay from the government, receives no budget from the government, and cannot vote on matters before the Senate. While he does not have an office in the United States Senate, the Government...
(D), 2007–present
List of District of Columbia Senators (Seat 2)
- Jesse Jackson, Sr. (D), 1991–1996
- Paul StraussPaul StraussPaul Eric Strauss is a shadow senator from the District of Columbia.-Political career:As a non-voting representative to the United States Senate, Strauss lobbies the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives on behalf of the citizens of D.C...
(D), 1997–present
Shadow Representative
The voters of the District of Columbia elect one Shadow Representative who is recognized as equivalent to U.S. Representatives by the District of Columbia, but is not recognized by the U.S. government as an actual member of the House of Representatives. A shadow representative was first elected in 1990. The current shadow representative is Mike Panetta.DC's Shadow U.S. Representative should not be confused with the non-voting
Delegate (United States Congress)
A delegate to Congress is a non-voting member of the United States House of Representatives who is elected from a U.S. territory and from Washington, D.C. to a two-year term. While unable to vote in the full House, a non-voting delegate may vote in a House committee of which the delegate is a member...
delegate that represents the District in Congress.
List of District of Columbia Shadow U.S. Representatives
- Charles Moreland (D), 1991–1995
- John Capozzi, Jr.John CapozziJohn James Capozzi, Jr. served as the second District of Columbia Shadow U.S. Representative, during 1995-1997 and is a former at-large member of the District of Columbia Democratic State Committee. He ran as a Candidate to become an At-Large Councilmember on the Council of the District of...
(D), 1995–1997 - Sabrina Sojourner (D), 1997–1999
- Tom Bryant, Jr. (D), 1999–2001
- Ray Browne (D), 2001–2007
- Mike Panetta (D), 2007–present