{
  "id": "RL32340",
  "type": "CRS Report",
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  "number": "RL32340",
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      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 316504,
      "date": "2006-07-06",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-07T18:58:09.687029",
      "title": "Territorial Delegates to the U.S. Congress: Current Issues and Historical Background",
      "summary": "Territorial Delegates have served in the House since the late 1700s, representing territories that\nhad\nnot yet achieved statehood. In the 20th Century, the concept of Delegate grew to include\nrepresentation of territories where the United States exercises some degree of control but which were\nnot expected to become states.\n Currently, the U.S. insular areas of American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and the federal\nmunicipality of the District of Columbia are each represented in Congress by a Delegate to the House\nof Representatives. The individual elected to represent Puerto Rico is called the Resident\nCommissioner instead of delegate. The Delegates and Resident Commissioner are the successors\nof Delegates from statehood-bound territories, who first took seats in the House in the late 1700s. \n   Proposals offered in recent Congresses have sought to grant the Delegate from\nthe District of\nColumbia voting rights on the floor of the House. Another proposal would expand territorial\nrepresentation to include the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Floor action in the\nHouse and Senate on these bills could occur before the end of the 109th Congress. \n Early laws providing for territorial Delegates to Congress did not specify the duties, privileges,\nand obligations of these representatives. It was left to the House and the Delegates themselves to\ndefine their role. On January 13, 1795, the House took an important step toward establishing the\nfunctions of Delegates when it appointed James White, the first territorial representative, to\nmembership on a select committee. In subsequent years, Delegates continued to serve on select\ncommittees as well as on conference committees. The first fixed assignment of a Delegate to\nstanding committee occurred under a House rule of 1871, which gave Delegates places as additional\nmembers on two standing committees. In these committees, the Delegates exercised the same\npowers and privileges as in the House; that is, they could debate but not vote. \n In the 1970s, Delegates gained the right to be elected to standing committees and to exercise\nin those committees the same powers and privileges as Members of the House, including the right\nto vote. Today, Delegates enjoy powers, rights, and responsibilities identical, in most respects, to\nthose of House Members from the states. Like these Members, Delegates can speak and introduce\nbills and resolutions on the House floor; and they can speak and vote in House committees. \nDelegates are not, however, full-fledged Members of Congress. Most significantly, they cannot vote\non the House floor. \n This report builds on earlier reports on territorial delegates prepared by former colleagues,\nAndorra Bruno and the late William H. Tansill, and also benefitted from the production assistance\nof Daphne Bigger. Paul Rundquist was a major contributor to this report. This report will be updated\nas events warrant.",
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      "typeId": "REPORTS",
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