assembly member; legislator; Diet member; MP; congressperson
General term for an elected member of a legislative body. In Japan, often refers to a member of the National Diet (国会議員), but can apply to prefectural or city assemblies as well. Context determines the specific body.
He ran for a seat in the National Diet.
The city council election will be held next month.
He was elected as an assembly member in last month's election.
She decided to run as a candidate for city council member.
After the scandal, he resigned as an assembly member.
As an assembly member, he questioned the mayor.
議員 is an elected member of a legislature (like a Diet member), while 党員 is simply a registered member of a political party, elected or not.
all Diet members; members of both houses
trustee; councilor
senator; member of the upper house
member of the lower house; congressman/congresswoman; representative; MP
ruling party Diet member; governing party legislator
hereditary Diet member; second-generation politician
second-generation Diet member; hereditary politician
ward assembly member