What Is A Delegate?

A delegate is someone who receives authority from another through appointment or other means so that the person receiving the authority, temporary or otherwise, can act in place of another. This term can refer to a convention or other assembly at which the delegates act for a large group of people with similar interests.

The individuals chosen as delegates for the all-important nominating conventions are usually political leaders who have influence within their own community. They may also be individuals who have supported the likely candidate from the early stages of the campaign. The influence and recognition on a local basis are important because delegates usually bring with them their own constituencies.

A delegate, in general terms, could also be someone who works for another, such as a person who collects money for an owner who has delegated authority. In the U.S. political system, a delegate attends the convention at which Presidential candidates are nominated. Candidates become the Presidential nominee following a vote by the delegates from either the Republican or Democratic party who attend the national convention held a few months prior to the election.

The complete list of delegates to nominating conventions is public information, as is the affiliation they have with a particular campaign. A candidate can refuse to allow certain delegates to represent the party and campaign interests at conventions.

The term has also been used to refer to someone who represents such organizations as unions and other workers’ organizations. These individuals are appointed or elected by membership vote and attend conventions as representatives of the members. This process is quite similar to that of the U.S. political system of convention delegates.

Delegates have, in the past, actually been elected representatives, acting much as the Congressmen of today who work in the legislature. This delegate is elected to represent all the citizens of the state or territory in which he resides.

The word “delegate” comes from the 14th and 15th century Latin “delegatus” which generally meant to assign someone or something. Two parts, “de” and “legatus” make up this word. A legation was a diplomatic term that referred to someone who worked in and represented an officer lower than embassy staff. This distinction has been changed in the last 50 years, so that now every diplomatic office is an embassy.

Subsequently, the word legation, and its associated word, delegate, have come to mean something entirely different. Primarily the term is used in a political campaign sense, rather than in the established government system.

A good example of a delegate that is not a member of the nominating convention would be the individuals who have been chosen by government leaders to meet with leaders from other nations. In many cases, this delegate has another job or permanent position, and is not a career diplomat or embassy staffer. During the Clinton administration a few years ago, representatives of the President’s staff supposedly met with a delegate from the Iranian government. There was always some question as to whether this individual was authorized or appointed by someone in Iran to act in their place.

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