What is a 'Commissioner'?

[Mr. Laser Beam]

We used to see them all the time in TOS. What exactly are they? Some Federation officials, apparently, I'm just curious as to exactly who and what they are and what they're doing there, why they are called 'Commissioner', etc.

I mean, I know what a *police* commissioner is, but that's about it, really.

 

[Plum]

^^^
A senior diplomat. The term "High Commissioner" is common. I guess the US diplomatic core don't use this term? No idea. Sometimes an embassy, or a diplomatic event or visit, may be lead by a Commissioner instead of a full Ambassador.

I believe the word is from the French, and it's usually pronounced that way too.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I used to think that TOS used the word 'commissioner' because the writers thought it sounded cool. Personally, I think it sounds kind of cheesy (especially the 'high' variant). But then again, if a Federation official shows up, they've got to call them something, I suppose...

 

[Kagan]

The way that the "commissioners" were always the a$$holes of the Federation makes me believe that they should have been titled "commissars" instead.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Whenever one of them came on board, Kirk probably told his crew "Don't turn around (uh oh), der Kommissar's in town (uh oh)."

 

[Brutal Strudel]

Babaganoosh said:
I used to think that TOS used the word 'commissioner' because the writers thought it sounded cool. Personally, I think it sounds kind of cheesy (especially the 'high' variant). But then again, if a Federation official shows up, they've got to call them something, I suppose...

Cheesy is cool. I'll wager five hundred quatloos against anyone who says otherwise.

 

[Ronald Held]

Perhapa commissar was the inspiration for the title?

 

[M'Sharak]

Babaganoosh said:
I used to think that TOS used the word 'commissioner' because the writers thought it sounded cool.

Commissioner Gordon says "No."

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I just think the word Commissioner sounds stupid in the context that TOS used it. I hear that word, I *expect* to hear the name Gordon after it.

When used in police terms, the word doesn't sound so bad. But when TOS trotted it out for any government official that happened to stumble onto the bridge, *that's* when it sounded dumb.

I mean, would it have killed them to use more characters called Ambassador? Councillor? Those don't sound so bad.

 

[doubleohfive]

There really is no pleasing you, is there?

 

[Nerys Myk]

Perhaps they were members a commission?

 

[M'Sharak]

Babaganoosh said:
I just think the word Commissioner sounds stupid in the context that TOS used it. I hear that word, I *expect* to hear the name Gordon after it.

When used in police terms, the word doesn't sound so bad. But when TOS trotted it out for any government official that happened to stumble onto the bridge, *that's* when it sounded dumb.

I mean, would it have killed them to use more characters called Ambassador? Councillor? Those don't sound so bad.

Oh, for Pete's sake, get off it; "Commissioner" is a perfectly legitimate title for a government official or diplomat -- then, now and in the 23rd century.

LOOK:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commissioner

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/commissioner

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=define%3Acommissioner&btnG=Google+Search

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Commissioner


Now... go do your homework and stop bothering people with stupid notions. And don't worry about the mercury in your CFLs plotting to kill you, either.

 

[Mallory]

Let's try and keep this from getting personal, OK people?

 

[Kagan]

Babaganoosh said:
Whenever one of them came on board, Kirk probably told his crew "Don't turn around (uh oh), der Kommissar's in town (uh oh)."

Now, you're going to have me singing that great old song the next time I watch...

Commissar Ferris in The Galileo Seven
Commissar Hedford in Metamorphosis

"Don't turn around (uh oh), der Kommissar's in town (uh oh)."

 

[cooleddie74]

A highly-ranked and placed diplomat of sorts. Not quite an ambassador, but not a lowly functionary either.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Kagan said:

Babaganoosh said:
Whenever one of them came on board, Kirk probably told his crew "Don't turn around (uh oh), der Kommissar's in town (uh oh)."

Now, you're going to have me singing that great old song the next time I watch...

Commissar Ferris in The Galileo Seven
Commissar Hedford in Metamorphosis
"Don't turn around (uh oh), der Kommissar's in town (uh oh)."

More proof that the Federation is a Socialist Utopia!

 

[Basil]

Yes, as posted earlier, the term "commissioner" is common in just about every form of American government today. It can be an elected or appointed official.

 

[cooleddie74]

And the British appointed High Commissioners to commonwealth countries and dominions as well as Middle Eastern sheikhdoms and emirates once under their protection and direct influence.

 

[Sec31Mike]

There are commissioners in various positions in the US government. The FCC has a board of Commissioners in charge.

It would be awfully boring and confusing if every government official had the same title.

I'm sure the Commissioners in TOS were higher level officials in either the Federation's civillian government or office holders in Starfleet/UESPA.