Government of the District of Columbia

John A. Wilson Building west side

Frank D. Reeves Municipal Center - Washington, D.C

H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse - Washington, D.C

West End Library - Washington, D.C.

DCR Cover and Table of Contents Vol 61 No 34 August 15 2014

Government of the District of Columbia

The Government of the District of Columbia operates under Article One of the United States Constitution and the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which devolves certain powers of the Congress to the Mayor and thirteen-member Council. However, the United States Congress maintains supreme authority over the city and may overturn local laws. Residents of the District vote for the President but do not have voting representation in Congress, leading to the popular slogan "Taxation without representation."

Structure

The government of the District of Columbia consists of three branches: executive, led by the Mayor of the District of Columbia; legislative, embodied by the Council of the District of Columbia; and judicial, which includes the D.C. Superior Court and the D.C. Court of Appeals. The structure is unique in the United States, combining elements of city and state government, a status that reflects its position as the nation's capital.

Executive Branch

The executive branch is headed by the Mayor, who is elected to a four-year term. The Mayor's responsibilities include implementing city laws, overseeing the city's public agencies, and managing the District's budget. The Mayor also appoints heads of various departments and members of boards and commissions.

Legislative Branch

The Council of the District of Columbia is the legislative body and is composed of thirteen members: one member elected from each of the city's eight wards, four at-large members, and the Chairman, who is elected at large. Council members serve four-year terms. The Council enacts laws in the form of Acts of the Council of the District of Columbia and has the authority to override mayoral vetoes with a two-thirds majority.

Judicial Branch

The judicial branch consists of the D.C. Superior Court and the D.C. Court of Appeals. Judges are appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate for fifteen-year terms. The courts handle local law matters, including civil, criminal, and family law cases.

Home Rule

The District of Columbia Home Rule Act, passed in 1973, granted the city a greater degree of self-government. However, Congress retained the power to review and overturn laws passed by the Council and to exert authority over the District's budget. This arrangement has been a source of tension between local officials and Congress, particularly regarding social issues and fiscal policy.

Voting Rights

Residents of the District of Columbia have the right to vote in presidential elections, but they do not have voting representation in the United States Congress. The District elects a non-voting delegate to the House of Representatives, who can participate in debate and serve on committees but cannot vote on the House floor. Efforts to provide the District with voting representation in Congress or to grant it statehood have been ongoing but have not yet been successful.

Conclusion

The Government of the District of Columbia operates within a unique framework that combines city and state functions under the oversight of the federal government. While it has been granted a degree of self-governance through the Home Rule Act, its lack of voting representation in Congress remains a contentious issue.