List of US House of Representatives delegates from Washington, DC

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Eleanor Holmes Norton, the current Congress delegate from Washington, DC

Washington, DC , Federal District has special voting rights in the United States . The citizens of the federal capital are allowed to take part in presidential elections , but they do not send voting members to Congress . The only representative there is a delegate in the House of Representatives who only has voting rights in the House Committees , but not in the House of Representatives itself. This position was first established in 1871, but was abolished again in 1874 by Congress. Since 1971 Washington, DC, has again had a permanent delegate in the House of Representatives; Efforts to grant him full voting rights have so far been unsuccessful.

In addition to the position of delegate, Washington, DC also elects so-called Shadow Congresspersons . The term, based on a shadow cabinet , describes politicians who have won an election officially held in the federal district as a member of the House of Representatives or the Senate , but are not recognized as elected members by Congress. This rather symbolic election is intended to underline the efforts of the federal capital for full voting rights in Congress. The current shadow senators are Michael D. Brown and Paul Strauss ; Franklin Garcia acts as Shadow Representative .

Surname Term of office Political party
Norton Parker Chipman April 21, 1871 - March 3, 1875 republican
Office abolished from 1875 to 1971
Walter Edward Fauntroy March 23, 1971 - January 3, 1991 democrat
Eleanor Holmes Norton Jan. 3, 1991 - Acting democrat

See also

Web links

Commons : US House of Representatives delegates from Washington, DC  - Collection of pictures, videos, and audio files