A “Congressman” is an archaic gendered term for a member of the United States House of Representatives. You really ought to stop using it. Here’s why.
From the US Constitution:
“All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.”
Clumsio-gendered terms such as Congressman Congresswoman, Congressperson, and Congresscritter actually have no meaning. They do not refer to specific members of a body of congress, but rather, the set of individuals who are either Senator or Representative.
Note that the terms Senator and Representative are not gendered.
Why are we using gendered terms when we have non-gendered terms staring us in the face, wondering why we are not using them?
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If you happen to be referring to a representative and you’re too lazy to look up which body they serve in, then –> congress-thingy.
‘Congresscritter’ because it’s a mild, folksy way of insulting people who act like Keystone Cops and who need to be not enabled so to do. So to speak.
I often use Congress Critter for that reason. And sometimes I say legislators, when I mean people from both houses.