Washington, D.C. Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! == City government == {{Main|Government of the District of Columbia}} === Politics === {{Main|Elections in the District of Columbia}} {{See also|District of Columbia home rule|List of District of Columbia symbols}} [[File:John A. Wilson Building west side.jpg|thumb|The [[John A. Wilson Building]] is the headquarters for much of the [[Government of the District of Columbia]], including the offices of the [[Mayor of the District of Columbia|mayor]] and [[Council of the District of Columbia|D.C. Council]].]] [[Article One of the United States Constitution|Article One, Section Eight of the United States Constitution]] grants the [[United States Congress]] "exclusive jurisdiction" over the city. The district did not have an elected local government until the passage of the [[District of Columbia Home Rule Act|1973 Home Rule Act]]. The Act devolved certain Congressional powers to an [[Mayor of the District of Columbia|elected mayor]] and the thirteen-member [[Council of the District of Columbia]]. However, Congress retains the right to review and overturn laws created by the council and intervene in local affairs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/pages/dc-home-rule |title=DC Home Rule |publisher=Council of the District of Columbia |access-date=December 3, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117031522/http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/pages/dc-home-rule |archive-date=November 17, 2011}}</ref> Washington, D.C., is [[Political party strength in the District of Columbia|overwhelmingly Democratic]], [[United States presidential elections in the District of Columbia|having voted]] for the Democratic presidential candidate solidly since it was granted electoral votes [[1964 United States presidential election|in 1964]].{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} Each of the city's eight [[Ward (country subdivision)|wards]] elects a single member of the council and residents elect four at-large members to represent the district as a whole. The council chair is also elected at-large.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dcboee.org/candidate_info/elected_officials/elected.asp |title=Current Elected Officials in DC |access-date=January 11, 2012 |publisher=D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics |archive-date=December 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111213133659/http://www.dcboee.org/candidate_info/elected_officials/elected.asp |url-status=live }}</ref> There are 37 [[Advisory Neighborhood Commission]]s (ANCs) elected by small neighborhood districts. ANCs can issue recommendations on all issues that affect residents; government agencies take their advice under careful consideration.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://anc.dc.gov/page/about-anc |title=About ANC |access-date=September 22, 2012 |publisher=Government of the District of Columbia |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915003209/http://anc.dc.gov/page/about-anc |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Attorney General of the District of Columbia|attorney general of the District of Columbia]] is elected to a four-year term.<ref>{{cite web |title=Β§ 1β204.35. Election of the Attorney General. |url=http://dccode.org/simple/sections/1-204.35.html |website=Code of the District of Columbia (Unofficial) |publisher=Open Law DC |access-date=January 2, 2015 |archive-date=January 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102183010/http://dccode.org/simple/sections/1-204.35.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Washington, D.C., observes all [[Federal holidays in the United States|federal holidays]] and also celebrates [[Emancipation Day]] on April 16, which commemorates the end of slavery in the district.<ref name=emancipation /> The [[flag of Washington, D.C.]], was adopted in 1938 and is a variation on George Washington's family [[coat of arms]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Glaser |first=Jason |title=Washington, D.C. |year=2003 |publisher=Capstone |isbn=978-0-7368-2204-6 |page=[https://archive.org/details/washingtondc0000glas/page/55 55] |url=https://archive.org/details/washingtondc0000glas |url-access=registration}}</ref> Washington, D.C., has been a member state of the [[Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization]] (UNPO) since 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNPO: District of Columbia (Washington, DC) |work=unpo.org |access-date=November 4, 2021 |url=https://unpo.org/members/18770 |date=December 4, 2015 |archive-date=October 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023192317/https://unpo.org/members/18770 |url-status=live }}</ref> The idiom "[[Inside the Beltway]]" is a reference used by media to describe discussions of national political issues inside of Washington, by way of geographical demarcation regarding the region within the Capital's Beltway, Interstate 495, the city's highway loop (beltway) constructed in 1964. The phrase is used as a title for a number of political columns and news items by publications like ''[[The Washington Times]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-beltway-as-a-target-of-populists-1510871274|title=Why 'Inside the Beltway' Is a Target of Populists|date=November 17, 2017|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=April 8, 2022|archive-date=May 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511141050/https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-beltway-as-a-target-of-populists-1510871274|url-status=live}}</ref> === Budgetary issues === [[File:Muriel Bowser official photo.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|[[Muriel Bowser]], D.C.'s mayor, took office in 2015.]] The mayor and council set local taxes and a budget, which Congress must approve. The [[Government Accountability Office]] and other analysts have estimated that the city's high percentage of tax-exempt property and the Congressional prohibition of commuter taxes create a structural deficit in the district's local budget of anywhere between $470 million and over $1 billion per year. Congress typically provides additional grants for federal programs such as [[Medicaid]] and the operation of the [[National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997|local justice system]]; however, analysts claim that the payments do not fully resolve the imbalance.<ref name=DCAppleseed>{{cite web |title=Building the Best Capital City in the World |url=http://www.dcappleseed.org/library/DC%20Appleseed%20Report.FINAL.pdf |publisher=DC Appleseed |access-date=February 5, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511193725/http://www.dcappleseed.org/library/DC%20Appleseed%20Report.FINAL.pdf |archive-date=May 11, 2011}}</ref><ref name=GAO>{{cite web |title=District of Columbia Structural Imbalance and Management Issues |url=http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d03666.pdf |publisher=Government Accountability Office |date=May 2003 |access-date=February 5, 2011 |archive-date=February 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202235328/http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d03666.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The city's local government, particularly during the mayoralty of [[Marion Barry]], has been criticized for mismanagement and waste.<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Powell |title=Poor Management, Federal Rule, Undermine Services |date=July 20, 2007 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/library/dc/mismanage/manage20.htm |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=A01 |access-date=June 10, 2008 |archive-date=May 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504041509/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/library/dc/mismanage/manage20.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> During his administration in 1989, ''[[Washington Monthly]]'' magazine labeled the district "the worst city government in America".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+worst+city+government+in+America-a06977500 |title=The worst city government in America. |last=DeParle |first=Jason |date=January 1, 1989 |work=The Washington Monthly |access-date=June 6, 2009 |archive-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430052114/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+worst+city+government+in+America-a06977500 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1995, at the start of Barry's fourth term, Congress created the [[District of Columbia Financial Control Board]] to oversee all municipal spending.<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Janofsky |title=Congress creates board to oversee Washington, D.C. |date=April 8, 1995 |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE7DB1739F93BA35757C0A963958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all |work=The New York Times |access-date=May 27, 2008 |archive-date=September 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919021500/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE7DB1739F93BA35757C0A963958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all |url-status=live }}</ref> Mayor [[Anthony A. Williams|Anthony Williams]] won election in 1998 and oversaw a period of [[urban renewal]] and budget surpluses.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bisnow.com/washington-dc/news/economic-development/former-mayor-anthony-williams-on-dcs-recovery-efforts-housing-affordability-106240 |title=Former Mayor Anthony Williams On D.C.'s Recovery Efforts, Housing Affordability |date=October 7, 2020 |first=Jon |last=Banister |work=Bisnow |access-date=February 3, 2024 |archive-date=February 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203051922/https://www.bisnow.com/washington-dc/news/economic-development/former-mayor-anthony-williams-on-dcs-recovery-efforts-housing-affordability-106240 |url-status=live }}</ref> The district regained control over its finances in 2001 and the oversight board's operations were suspended.<ref>{{cite news |last=DeBonis |first=Mike |title=After 10 years, D.C. control board is gone but not forgotten |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/30/AR2011013003901.html |access-date=July 11, 2011 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 30, 2011 |archive-date=October 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016220602/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/30/AR2011013003901.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The district has a federally funded "Emergency Planning and Security Fund" to cover security related to visits by foreign leaders and diplomats, presidential inaugurations, protests, and terrorism concerns. During the Trump administration, the fund has run with a deficit. Trump's January 2017 inauguration cost the city $27 million; of that, $7 million was never repaid to the fund. Trump's 2019 Independence Day event, "A Salute to America", cost six times more than Independence Day events in past years.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/trumps-july-fourth-event-and-weekend-protests-bankrupted-dc-security-fund-mayor-says/2019/07/10/fb0d1de4-a316-11e9-b732-41a79c2551bf_story.html |title=Trump's July Fourth event and weekend protests bankrupted D.C. security fund, mayor says |last=Jamison |first=Peter |date=July 10, 2019 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=July 10, 2019 |archive-date=July 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710182846/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/trumps-july-fourth-event-and-weekend-protests-bankrupted-dc-security-fund-mayor-says/2019/07/10/fb0d1de4-a316-11e9-b732-41a79c2551bf_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> === Voting rights debate === {{See also|District of Columbia voting rights|Political party strength in Washington, D.C.}} [[File:Washington, D.C. license plate, 2017.png|thumb|The city's [[Vehicle registration plates of Washington, D.C.|license plate]] calls for an end to taxation without representation.]] <!--{{PresHead|place=Washington, D.C.|source={{cite web|url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/compare.php?year=2008&fips=11&f=1&off=0&elect=0&type=state|title=Presidential General Election Results Comparison β District of Columbia|publisher=US Election Atlas|access-date=October 26, 2022|author=Leip, David}}}} --!--> Washington, D.C. is not a state and therefore has no federal voting representation in [[United States Congress|Congress]]. The city's residents elect a [[Non-voting members of the United States House of representatives|non-voting delegate]] to the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] ([[District of Columbia's at-large congressional district|D.C. at-large]]), who may sit on committees, participate in debate, and introduce legislation, but cannot vote on the [[Floor (legislative)|House floor]]. The district has no official representation in the [[United States Senate]]. Neither chamber seats the district's elected [[Shadow congressperson|"shadow" representative or senators]]. Unlike residents of [[Territories of the United States|U.S. territories]] such as [[Puerto Rico]] or [[Guam]], which also have non-voting delegates, D.C. residents are subject to all federal taxes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Individuals-Living-or-Working-in-U.S.-Possessions |title=Individuals Living or Working in U.S. Possessions |access-date=December 2, 2012 |publisher=[[Internal Revenue Service]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121202114846/http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Individuals-Living-or-Working-in-U.S.-Possessions |archive-date=December 2, 2012}}</ref> In the financial year 2012, D.C. residents and businesses paid $20.7 billion in federal taxes, more than the taxes collected from 19 states and the highest [[Federal tax revenue by state|federal taxes per capita]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/12db05co.xls |title=Internal Revenue Gross Collections, by Type of Tax and State, Fiscal Year 2012 |access-date=September 5, 2013 |format=XLS |publisher=Internal Revenue Service |archive-date=October 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020202246/http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/12db05co.xls |url-status=live }}</ref> A 2005 poll found that 78% of Americans did not know residents of Washington, D.C., have less representation in Congress than residents of the 50 states.<ref name="votepoll">{{cite web |url=http://www.dcvote.org/newsletter/spring05.pdf |title=Poll Shows Nationwide Support for DC Voting Rights |access-date=May 29, 2008 |year=2005 |work=DC Vote Voice |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624204729/http://www.dcvote.org/newsletter/spring05.pdf |archive-date=June 24, 2008}}</ref> Efforts to raise awareness about the issue have included campaigns by [[grassroots]] organizations and featuring the city's unofficial motto, "[[No taxation without representation|End Taxation Without Representation]]", on [[Vehicle registration plates of Washington, D.C.|D.C. vehicle license plates]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dmv.dc.gov/node/156462 |title='Taxation without Representation' Tags |access-date=December 2, 2012 |publisher=District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115081252/http://dmv.dc.gov/node/156462 |archive-date=January 15, 2013}}</ref> There is evidence of nationwide approval for D.C. voting rights; various polls indicate that 61 to 82% of Americans believe D.C. should have voting representation in Congress.<ref name="votepoll" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Washington Post Poll: D.C. Voting Rights |date=April 23, 2007 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/postpoll_042307.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=June 10, 2008 |archive-date=May 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504041611/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/postpoll_042307.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Opponents to federal voting rights for Washington, D.C., propose that the [[Founding Fathers of the United States|Founding Fathers]] never intended for district residents to have a vote in Congress since the Constitution makes clear that representation must come from the states. Those opposed to making District of Columbia a state claim such a move would destroy the notion of a separate national capital and that statehood would unfairly grant Senate representation to a single city.<ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=Fortier |title=The D.C. colony |date=May 17, 2006 |url=http://thehill.com/component/content/article/275-john-fortier/4948-the-dc-colony |work=The Hill |access-date=October 10, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112065946/http://thehill.com/component/content/article/275-john-fortier/4948-the-dc-colony |archive-date=November 12, 2010}}</ref> === Homelessness === The city passed a law that requires shelter to be provided to everyone in need when the temperature drops below freezing.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-25/dcs-homeless-do-it-tough-as-winter-rolls-through/5113900 DC's homeless do it tough as winter rolls through] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107160941/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-25/dcs-homeless-do-it-tough-as-winter-rolls-through/5113900 |date=January 7, 2016 }}. ''ABC News'', November 25, 2013.</ref> Since D.C. does not have enough shelter units available, every winter it books hotel rooms in the suburbs with an average cost around $100 for a night. According to the D.C. Department of Human Services, during the winter of 2012 the city spent $2,544,454 on putting homeless families in hotels,<ref>Wiener, Aaron. [http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2013/11/26/d-c-s-homeless-shelter-crisis-by-the-numbers/ D.C.'s Homeless Shelter Crisis, by the Numbers.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422103004/http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2013/11/26/d-c-s-homeless-shelter-crisis-by-the-numbers/ |date=April 22, 2016 }} ''Washington City Paper'', November 26, 2013.</ref> and budgeted $3.2 million on hotel beds in 2013.<ref>Wiener, Aaron. [http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2013/10/29/winters-coming-is-the-city-ready-to-shelter-its-homeless/ Winter's Coming. Is the City Ready to Shelter Its Homeless?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304034609/http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2013/10/29/winters-coming-is-the-city-ready-to-shelter-its-homeless/ |date=March 4, 2016 }} ''Washington City Paper'', October 29, 2013.</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page