A delegate is an individual (or a member of a group called a delegation) who represents the interests of a larger organization (e.g. a government, a charity, an NGO, or a trade union) at a meeting of some kind (e.g. trade talks, an environmental summit, aid negotiations, or an industrial dispute).

In order to avoid the principal-agent problem, it is generally important to the organization to take steps to ensure that the delegate or delegation does not have a conflict of interest. Failure to do so may reduce the chances of the organization's viewpoint being represented as well as possible.

Politics

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Delegates from the major political parties are involved in the selection of candidates for President of the United States by such assemblies as a convention. Some of the officials involved in the process are called superdelegates.

Delegate is the title of a person elected to the United States House of Representatives to serve the interests of an organized United States territory, at present only overseas, but historically in most cases in a portion of North America as precursor to one or more of the present states of the union. Delegates have powers similar to that of Representatives, including the right to vote in committee, but have no right to take part in the floor votes in which the full house actually decides whether the proposal is carried. See: Delegate (United States Congress).

A similar mandate is held in a few cases under the style Resident commissioner.

• Delegate is also the title given to individuals elected to the lower houses of the bicameral legislative bodies of the states of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia (see House of Delegates).

• Historically DElegates were members of other parliamentary assemblies, such as the Continental Congress or the New York State Constitutional

Other uses

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Delegate is the name of a small town in the Bombala Council area of New South Wales, Australia. It was the start for the well known Men from Snowy Marches during World War I and World War II. Delegate is an Aboriginal word meaning 'one big hill'.

See also

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• Apostolic delegate (papal)
• Pontifical delegate (papal)

Occupations | Parliamentary titles