Delegados

Delegados are individuals authorized to act on behalf of others or to represent a group in formal settings. The term, rooted in the Latin delegare, covers a defined mandate and recognized authority to decide, negotiate, or perform specific tasks. The exact powers of a delegation may be elected or appointed and can be temporary or extend for a particular purpose.

In political contexts, delegates are often selected to attend conventions, assemblies, or congresses where they vote to nominate candidates, shape platforms, or authorize agreements. Some systems bind delegates to the preferences of their constituents or party members, while others grant more discretion to the delegate.

In government and administration, the concept appears in roles that carry authority from a higher level to a locality. For example, in Spain the Government Delegate (delegado del Gobierno) represents the central government in a province. Similar roles exist in other countries, with delegates functioning as regional or municipal representatives who coordinate policies and communication.

In labor and industry, delegates represent workers in unions or works councils, taking part in negotiations, addressing workplace issues, and helping to ensure compliance with collective agreements and labor protections.

In computing and software contexts, delegados is used in Spanish-language technical literature to denote a delegate or callback—an object or reference to a function or method that can be invoked later to handle events or customize behavior. This reflects the broad use of the term to describe designated representatives across different fields.