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In the United States, the prefix The Honorable has, since 1945,[citation needed] been used to formally address outgoing U.S. Presidents, especially during the inauguration of the new President following a presidential election.

The federal usage is expressed in the United States Department of State may also (informally) refer to these other people, although such a title is by no means official.

* The President and Vice President of the United States (who are referred to as Excellency when traveling abroad), United States Senators, and United States Representatives, as well as Presidents-, Vice Presidents-, Senators-, and Representatives-elect (or Designates in cases of Senators appointed but not yet seated). * All federal and state judges, justices of the peace, and magistrates, whether appointed or elected. * Court clerks occasionally. * Appointed heads of the federal executive departments (United States Cabinet officers) and Cabinet-level officers, as well as appointed heads of the independent agencies * Assistants to the President above the rank of "Special Assistant to President" * Special (or "Personal") Envoys * Most appointees that must be confirmed by the Senate, such as ambassadors of the United States (who are referred to as Excellency when traveling abroad). United States Attorneys and military officers are not granted the style, although they are confirmed by the Senate. * Officers of the House of Representatives and of the Senate (e.g., Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, Secretary of the Senate) * Heads of elected legislative bodies such as the U.S. Senate, Congress, as well as State, County, and City legislatures. * Governors, lieutenant governors, statewide elected officers such as the state Attorneys General, and members of a governor's cabinet. In some states, an incumbent governor is also referred to as Excellency by long-established custom or by some legislative or constitutional act.

Federal usage also notes that the style of "Honorable" is used for life. This would include persons convicted of crimes after leaving office, resigned under a cloud, or who were removed from office (i.e. impeached or recalled). [3]

In the Commonwealth of Kentucky, commissioned Kentucky Colonels are considered members of the Governor's Staff and his honorary aides-de-camp, and as such are entitled to the style of "Honorable" as indicated on their commission certificates. The commission and letters patent granted by the Governor and Secretary of State bestowing the title of Kentucky Colonel refers to the honoree as "Honorable First Name Last Name". However, this style is rarely used, most Kentucky Colonels preferring to be referred to and addressed as "Colonel".

The style "The Honorable," or the abbreviation of "Hon." is used on envelopes when referring to the individual in the third person, i.e. in a formal introduction. It generally is not used with an additional style or title, such as Dr. or The Reverend, though it can be used with post-nominal letters (e.g., "The Hon. John H. Sununu, Ph.D"). Other modifiers ("The Right Honorable," "The Most Honorable") are not used in American practice.

A spouse of someone with the style of "The Honorable" receives no additional style, unless personally entitled to the style. The wife of former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge, Michele Ridge, does not receive the style, even though her husband has held various offices (governor, U.S. Representative, Secretary of Homeland Security, and assistant to the president) that would grant the style for life under all usages. The wife of current Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, Marjorie Rendell, is a federal judge, appointed years prior to Rendell's election as Governor, and is styled "The Honorable."

Aside from the prefix "The Honorable," the spoken form of address, "Your Honor," is used when addressing judges, justices, and magistrates (who are addressed as such when presiding in court). When speaking of a judge in this manner in the third person, "Your Honor" becomes "His/Her Honor."

1 posted on 06/28/2010 10:38:21 AM PDT by Lucky9teen
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To: Lucky9teen

Don't push my buttons.

40 posted on 06/28/2010 11:15:45 AM PDT by maggief
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To: Lucky9teen
 
Time is running out friends.

43 posted on 06/28/2010 11:25:28 AM PDT by Radix ("..Democrats are holding a meeting today to decide whether to overturn the results of the election.")
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To: Lucky9teen
"Peel your skin, Elana, or you'll fart too much!"


44 posted on 06/28/2010 11:26:44 AM PDT by LRS (Just contracts; just laws; just a constitution...)
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To: Lucky9teen

"Stop it right there, big guy. I do not kiss men."

45 posted on 06/28/2010 11:28:58 AM PDT by Yaelle
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To: Lucky9teen

"Why, thank you. I did get this necklace from the Butches' Closet Boutique! This one is from the Janet P. Reno collection."

47 posted on 06/28/2010 11:31:16 AM PDT by Yaelle
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To: Lucky9teen

48 posted on 06/28/2010 11:35:21 AM PDT by crusty old prospector
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To: Lucky9teen


(best Otto voice) "You used to be a guy, right? You can tell me, I'm open-minded!"
49 posted on 06/28/2010 11:38:44 AM PDT by GodBlessRonaldReagan (And that is all the people need to know!)
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To: Lucky9teen

This woman is an outright communist.


50 posted on 06/28/2010 11:43:11 AM PDT by Talisker (When you find a turtle on top of a fence post, you can be damn sure it didn't get there on it's own.)
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To: Lucky9teen

Why does the movie Misery come to my mind?


51 posted on 06/28/2010 11:44:33 AM PDT by jacknhoo (Luke 12:51. Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.)
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To: Lucky9teen

never been a judge
crackpot liberal
socialist
anti military
lesbian
haughty Harvard law dean
pro abortion
pro amnesty
pro gay marriage
homely/angry
anti states rights
pro big government
pro gov web control
pro foreign law influence
anti Originalist
anti 2nd A
.... just for starters


52 posted on 06/28/2010 11:45:07 AM PDT by moodyskeptic (the counterculture votes R)
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To: Lucky9teen
I made this outfit myself!


53 posted on 06/28/2010 12:14:43 PM PDT by almost done by half
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To: Lucky9teen
She's scary.


54 posted on 06/28/2010 12:23:49 PM PDT by CheneyChick (01/20/2013)
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To: Lucky9teen; reagan_fanatic; a real Sheila; 50mm; Lizavetta; Roscoe Karns; edzo4; Netizen; ...

You think I'm ugly? Just wait for the national destruction after I remake the constitution in my image!

55 posted on 06/28/2010 12:35:35 PM PDT by Nateman
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To: Lucky9teen

Wow, that guy from “King of Queens” isn’t aging well.


56 posted on 06/28/2010 12:40:02 PM PDT by gilor (Pull the wool over your own eyes!)
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To: Lucky9teen

Yes,Senator,we need a *wise* lesbian on the court!

68 posted on 06/28/2010 2:24:44 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Host The Beer Summit-->Win The Nobel Peace Prize!)
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To: Lucky9teen

73 posted on 06/28/2010 5:25:20 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear (I don't have a 'Cousin Pookie'.)
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To: Lucky9teen
This was posted on Drudge. She has on a mighty expensive Movado watch, there.
74 posted on 06/28/2010 5:29:26 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear (I don't have a 'Cousin Pookie'.)
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To: Lucky9teen

81 posted on 06/30/2010 1:22:10 AM PDT by Slyfox
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