District of Columbia
The District of Columbia is the federal district that serves as the nation's capital. It is not part of any state, and Congress holds ultimate authority over it, while an elected mayor and council run local government under a law granting limited home rule. Its residents live under local laws but have a different kind of representation in Congress than state residents.
People usually bring questions about how home rule works, what powers Congress and the president have over the city, and how control of its police is divided. Others ask about voting rights, representation, and the long-running arguments over D.C. statehood.
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All Articles on District of Columbia
DC Home Rule Act Explained: How Washington’s Limited Self-Government Works
The District of Columbia Home Rule Act is the 1973 federal law that established locally elected government for Washington, D.C. for the first time…
Trump’s 2025 Takeover of D.C. Police, Explained
On August 11, 2025, President Donald Trump announced an unprecedented federal takeover of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and deployed the National Guard.…
Understanding the Relationship Between D.C. and the Federal Government
Washington, D.C., isn't like any other American city. It's not a state, and it's not part of one. Instead, it's a constitutionally mandated federal…