FYI, here is what's come in to the Blog that relates to this office/rank.
   For recent questions sent in, check out Robert Hickey's Blog.
   For specific offices/ranks, check out Robert Hickey's On-Line Guide.

How to Address a US Representative-Elect?
      How would I address someone elected to the House of Representatives, but not yet sworn in?
        -- Mike, VR

Dear Mike, VR,
      A representative-elect is addressed in writing as
           The Honorable (First Name) (Surname)
     and in coversation as ...
           Mr./Ms./etc. (Surname)
     I have that form on page 182 of my book.  Officials become the Honorable once elected. It's traditional on Capitol Hill that members of the House address one another as "Mr/Ms. (Surname)."   While you hear members of the House referred to as "Congressman (Surname)" or "Representative (Surname)" in the media, neither is traditionally the correct form of direct address.
         -- Robert Hickey

How to Address a Former Member of the House of Representatives?    
       I am meeting one of our former congressional representatives next week, and I am wondering if it is still appropriate to address them as Congressman or Representative, even though they have been voted out of office?
        -- Peter Michaels

Dear Mr, Michaels:   
     Short answer is that Mr./Ms./Mrs./Dr. (name) is the absolutely correct way to address a former member of the House of Representatives.
    Now for a longer answer:
     #1 Current members of the US House address each other as Mr./Ms./Mrs./Dr. (name).  That's the tradition. They don't use "Congressman" or "Represetative" as an honorific.
      So most formally you may address both current and former congressional representative as Mr./Ms./Mrs./Dr. (name),  If you introduce a former member to someone ... you could then add that he/she was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 19XX to 20XX for the XXX Congressional District of (State)... or something similiar.
       I've spoken to many Members of the House Representatives on just this point and while some like prefer "Representative (name)" or "Congressman (name)" .... all agree that Mr./Ms./Mrs. (name) is absolutely correct. 
     #2 On the other hand ... just to make sure everyone knows who they are .... current members do not object to being addressed as Representative (name) and Congressman (name).  I'd describe that as a "practice" ... it's unofficial ... and done at the preference of the individual.  It's not a rule one can safely apply to all.
    But after all that -- former members don't get a special honorific.
                     -- Robert Hickey

How To Address a Former Congressman with Degrees?
    We need the correct salutation for a former congressman who may or may not have a formal Ph.D. but who has 45 honorary degrees.  Do we address him in a personal invitation as Dear “Dr. Surname”, “Mr. Surname”, “Congressman”, or drop the “Dear” altogether and put instead “To The Honorable First Name, Last Name”?
    -- Nancy Calvin

Dear Ms. Calvin,
    Holders of an honorary doctorate do not use "Dr." as an honorific.
    Most formally former members of the US House of Representatives are in conversation and in a salutation as Mr./Ms./Mrs. (name).
    Use "The Honorable (Full Name)" on his envelope and the address block of the letter. He's "the Honorable" for life.
    If this is complicated, see pages 180-181 of my book.
    -- Robert Hickey

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For forms of address for invitations, place cards, name badges, introductions, conversation, and all other formal uses, see Honor & Respect: the Official Guide to Names, Titles, and Forms of Address.

Copyright © 2012 Robert Hickey.     All Rights Reserved.
Photo: Marc Goodman.