Who Has Non-Voting Members in the House of Representatives?
The United States House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the U.S. Congress, and it consists of 435 voting members who are elected by their respective states. However, there are also six non-voting members of the House of Representatives, who are chosen by their respective territories.
Delegates
- American Samoa: Amata Coleman Radewagen (R)
- Guam: Michael San Nicolas (D)
- Northern Mariana Islands: Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (I)
Delegates have limited powers in the House of Representatives. They can introduce bills and resolutions, but they cannot vote on final passage. They can also participate in debates and serve on committees, but they do not have the same level of influence as voting members.
Resident Commissioner
- Puerto Rico: Jenniffer González-Colón (R)
The resident commissioner of Puerto Rico has the same powers as delegates, with the addition of the ability to vote in the Committee on Natural Resources, which has jurisdiction over Puerto Rican affairs.
Other Territories
- U.S. Virgin Islands: Stacey Plaskett (D)
The representative from the U.S. Virgin Islands is a non-voting member of the House of Representatives, but unlike delegates and the resident commissioner, they have no committee assignments or voting privileges in any committees.
Historical Context
The non-voting members of the House of Representatives are a reflection of the complex history of U.S. territorial expansion. The territories represented by non-voting members were acquired by the United States through various means, including conquest, purchase, and annexation.
The status of the non-voting members has been a subject of debate for many years. Some argue that they should be given full voting rights, while others believe that their limited powers are appropriate given the territories’ status as unincorporated territories of the United States.
Conclusion
The non-voting members of the House of Representatives play an important role in representing the interests of their territories in Congress. While they do not have the same level of power as voting members, they can still advocate for their constituents and work to improve the lives of the people they represent.
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