Shadow congressperson
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The offices of shadow representative and shadow senator are elective offices in the District of Columbia.
In 1978, the District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment was proposed to the Constitution of the United States that would have given the District of Columbia the same representation in Congress as a state. Anticipating the passage of the Amendment, the citizens of the District held a constitutional convention for the post-amendment state of New Columbia. It produced a statehood constitution that was duly adopted by the voters in 1982. This constitution created the elective positions of shadow representative and shadow senator with the intention that these individuals become the United States representative and United States senator upon the ratification of the amendment. However, the amendment fell short of ratification, being approved by only 16 states out of the 38 required before the ratification period expired. Nonetheless, the District government has maintained these positions to help in lobbying for D.C. Statehood.
The shadow representative should not be confused with the non-voting delegate that represents the District in Congress, nor with the practice of the Official Opposition appointing shadow cabinets in parliamentary systems.
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The position of shadow senator is not at all historically unique. On six previous occasions and as far back as 1796, certain American territories have elected such officers prior to and pursuant to their admission as States into the Union. Following enactment of statehood for those areas, these men were accepted as full members, and admitted formally into Congress.
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