Why do we address Members of the U.S. House of Representatives on the greeting line as Dear Mr./Ms. (Name) instead of Dear Representative (Name)? Are both ways appropriate?
— Working at Connecticut Avenue and K Street
Dear WACAAKS:
On Capital Hill members of the House address one another asMr./Mrs./Ms./Dr./etc. Traditionally members of the House use whatever their own honorific is.
All around the world lower houses of governments routinely follow the British model: e.g. members of the House of Commons in Parliament London, Ottawa, and everywhere else are all simply Mr./Mrs./Ms./Dr./etc.
The media uses “Representative Williams” or sometimes “Congressman Williams” as shorthand to refer to The Honorable Thomas Williams, Member of the United States House of Representatives from the 3rd District of New Mexico which would be the formal form of address — and is a mouthful!
Sometimes off Capital Hill you will hear “Representative Williams” or “Congresswoman Williams” to clarify to the listener who is being introduced … Those members of the House don’t like to their rank to be missed! Members of the Senate with their Senator Brown have it a bit easier!
– Robert Hickey www.formsofaddress.info
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