In Politics
Seniority in United States politics, when used out of context, is informally defined as the number of years one member of a group has been a part of the group. For example, Ralph Hall, from Texas is the most senior member of the House of Representatives, at age 88. However, "seniority" can also refer to political power attained by position within the United States Government. For further details, see:
- United States Order of Precedence
- United States Presidential Line of Succession
- Seniority in the United States Senate
- Dean of the United States House of Representatives
Seniority is viewed sometimes both positively and negatively. Many elected officials are viewed as retaining their position only because they have been there for many years, which can reflect voter stagnancy. On the other hand, long years of incumbency can also be seen as a sign of respect for the person's ability to continue pleasing voters.
In some countries the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps receives special treatment.
Read more about this topic: Seniority
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