Parliamentary Rights of the Delegates and Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico

Publication Date: February 2007

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

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Abstract:

As officers who represent territories and properties possessed or administered by the United States but not admitted to statehood, the four House Delegates and the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico are not Members of Congress, and do not enjoy all the same parliamentary rights as Members. They may vote and otherwise act similarly to Members in legislative committee; may not vote in the House, but may participate in debate and make most motions there; and, under a rule adopted in the 110th Congress, may vote in Committee of the Whole subject to an immediate revote in the House if their votes are decisive. This report will be updated as circumstances warrant.