[Grammar] Definite article

[LaMelange]

Hello,

In the following sentence, do we need the definite article before the word Congress? Please explain me the rule. (I see the word both with and without the definite article throughout the chapter.) Thanks again!

In this speech, President Roosevelt spells out this new vision and calls on the audience—state governors, industry leaders, members of Congress, and natural resource managers—to put his principles into action.

 

[bhaisahab]

It is not necessary in that sentence.

 

[Matthew Wai]

Please explain me the rule.

I think the rule is that 'the' should not be used before a proper noun such as 'Congress'.

 

[LaMelange]

Can you please tell me the difference between "members of the Congress" and "members of Congress" in the same sentence so that I understand the rule and can apply it in other instances?

(i.e., when we use the definite article and when we don't before the word Congress)

Thank you!

 

[Matthew Wai]

'The African National Congress'── quoted from http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/congress?q=congress

Having read the above, I think 'the Congress' refers to a political party in 'members of the Congress' while 'Congress' refers to the national legislature in 'members of Congress'.

 

[Rover_KE]

Once again, Matthew, you have begun to make suppositions before teachers and/or native speakers have responded, putting us to the trouble of correcting your mistakes as well as answering the OP. Please wait longer before jumping in.

 

[Rover_KE]

LaMelange, please note that a better title would have been Congress or the congress?

Extract from the Posting Guidelines:

'Thread titles should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.'

 

[LaMelange]

Point taken! I chose this title because my trouble here is the definite article, not the word Congress in particular.

(By the way, Congress in the chapter I was working on stands for the US Congress, and I came across 4 different entries: the US Congress, US Congress, the Congress, and Congress [without the definite article].)

 

[MikeNewYork]

I am an American speaker. The use of the article before Congress is somewhat variable, but most often it is left off.

 

[Matthew Wai]

Does 'the Congress' refer to a political party below? That's what I thought when I wrote my above post.
'The African National Congress held a meeting yesterday. All members of the Congress supported the motion proposed by the president.'

 

[Rover_KE]

Yes, it does. The thread so far has been specifically about the US Congress. Let's not digress.