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.
市議会議員の選挙が来月行われる。
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