---
title: "What Is House of Delegates? Dental Practice Glossary"
description: "The ADA's main policy-making body, made up of delegates chosen by state societies, federal dental services and the student association, which meets once a year."
url: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/house-of-delegates
publisher: Copeland Consulting Services
email: drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com
contact: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact
---

Organized dentistry

# House of Delegates

The ADA's main policy-making body, made up of delegates chosen by state societies, federal dental services and the student association, which meets once a year.

The House of Delegates is the governing body of the ADA. The ADA describes it as the legislative and governing body of the association and the supreme authority guiding it. It speaks for ADA members and for the dental profession in the United States.

The ADA says members of the House are chosen by the 53 constituent societies, the five federal dental services and the American Student Dental Association. The House meets once a year during the ADA Annual Meeting.

Delegates debate and vote on policy, the budget and bylaws. State groups called [constituent societies](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/constituent-society) send delegates. The House is part of [organized dentistry](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/organized-dentistry) and the [American Dental Association](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/american-dental-association). This entry is a general definition.

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## Related terms

-   [American Dental Association](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/american-dental-association)
-   [Constituent society](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/constituent-society)
-   [Organized dentistry](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/organized-dentistry)
-   [ADA](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/ada)

## Sources

1.  [ADA, House of Delegates](https://www.ada.org/about/governance/house-of-delegates)
2.  [ADA, House of Delegates](https://www.ada.org/about/governance/house-of-delegates)

## Talk with Dr. Copeland

[Contact Dr. Copeland](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact)[Email](mailto:drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com)