District of Columbia Civics: How Your Government Works

by bam

A practical, non-partisan guide to how the District of Columbia governs itself, and why it is different from a state. DC is NOT a state; it is a FEDERAL DISTRICT created by the U.S. Constitution as the seat of the national government, and Congress holds ultimate authority over it. You'll learn how the Home Rule Act of 1973 gave DC an elected Mayor and Council; why DC has no voting representation in Congress (only a non-voting Delegate) yet gets three electoral votes for President under the 23rd Amendment; how its distinctive Advisory Neighborhood Commissions work; how its judges are appointed by the U.S. President; and the ongoing DC statehood debate. Time-sensitive facts are flagged, pointing to dccouncil.gov and dcboe.gov. Cited to DC's own official sources and the U.S. Constitution.