# District of Columbia becomes a state--- what should it be called? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 22, 2021, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/district-of-columbia-becomes-a-state-what-should-it-be-called/940553 "2021-04-22T17:27:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/district-of-columbia-becomes-a-state-what-should-it-be-called/940553/61 "2021-04-24T01:22:33Z")
Mexico changed the name five years ago, with no status change. Distrito Federal (DF) changed to Ciudad de Mexico (CDMX), or “City of Mexico” in English. Complicated be the fact that CDMX is surrounded by Estado de Mexico (“State of Mexico”) which is within the country of Mexico, “United Mexican States”… ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/district-of-columbia-becomes-a-state-what-should-it-be-called/940553/62 "2021-04-24T01:47:21Z")
So, now it’s “Mexico, Mexico, Mexico”? The city so nice they named it thrice? ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/district-of-columbia-becomes-a-state-what-should-it-be-called/940553/63 "2021-04-24T02:19:24Z")
Just go with Douglass Commonwealth; Frederick Douglass get’s honored and nobody has to change their stationary (only their flags). We already have 4 states that style themselves commonwealths instead of states; the only difference here is that the long form nomenclature is reversed (instead of Commonwealth of Douglass) and grandfather in the USPS abbreviation. There are _much_ bigger issues with DC statehood than new state’s name. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/district-of-columbia-becomes-a-state-what-should-it-be-called/940553/64 "2021-04-24T03:37:48Z")
> [@stuccosuperstar2020](#): > > You really can’t stick with District of Columbia because its not longer just a “district”. I really don’t see why not, there is no reason a state can’t be called a district as well as a commonwealth (for example). It is the assigned status of the district that counts, not the name. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/district-of-columbia-becomes-a-state-what-should-it-be-called/940553/65 "2021-04-24T03:56:38Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > ISTM SCOTUS would nuke such a provision SO fast… Congress can legislate the procedure and celebration of Congressional election but not the _outcome_ of the Congressional election. That’s an interesting point. I assume it could be handled via amendment. It would probably take some sort of amendment to make DC a state so that could be rolled in as part of it. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/district-of-columbia-becomes-a-state-what-should-it-be-called/940553/66 "2021-04-24T13:41:01Z")
Why would that be more fair? What if your locality was lumped in with some other larger entity, would that be more fair for you? The people of Washington DC live in Washington DC, not Maryland. There’s no reason for them to become part of Maryland, or Virginia, or Delaware, or Florida, or Alaska. They want statehood, They are not interested in suiting your arbitrary sense of fairness. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/district-of-columbia-becomes-a-state-what-should-it-be-called/940553/67 "2021-04-24T13:53:16Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > Oooh. How about Jefferson? The [nutcases](https://www.stateofjefferson.com/) out west would turn into enraged chimps. This would be a good way to smear their dumb faces in their own BS. Would the people of a majority Black state want it to be named after a white slave-holder, rather than a Black abolitionist? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/district-of-columbia-becomes-a-state-what-should-it-be-called/940553/68 "2021-04-24T13:54:55Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Constitutionally there HAS to be a capital city that isn’t part of another state. Are you absolutely sure it is required? > To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as **may** , by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States Note the “may” part. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/district-of-columbia-becomes-a-state-what-should-it-be-called/940553/69 "2021-04-24T15:29:35Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Why would that be more fair? What if your locality was lumped in with some other larger entity, would that be more fair for you? The people of Washington DC live in Washington DC, not Maryland. But one has to consider fairness to all voters, surely? Adding another absurdly small state adds to the incredible imbalance to the Senate; adding DC to Maryland doesn’t. Maryland, conveniently, has (with or without DC) a population that roughly approximates one fiftieth of the population of the United States. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/district-of-columbia-becomes-a-state-what-should-it-be-called/940553/70 "2021-04-24T15:37:25Z")
They should declare they will name the new state Reagan. (They’ve already got the airport.) Then let Republicans be faced with the problem of explaining why they are voting against the proposal. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/district-of-columbia-becomes-a-state-what-should-it-be-called/940553/71 "2021-04-24T15:41:00Z")
The residents of Eastern Washington would find this offensive. Being born and raised in Washington, I find using that name for the new state to be rather stupid. It’s like whoever wrote the bill has never been west of the Mississippi. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/district-of-columbia-becomes-a-state-what-should-it-be-called/940553/72 "2021-04-24T15:43:45Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > But one has to consider fairness to all voters, surely? Adding another absurdly small state adds to the incredible imbalance to the Senate; adding DC to Maryland doesn’t. Maryland, conveniently, has (with or without DC) a population that roughly approximates one fiftieth of the population of the United States. If you’re concerned about being fair to all voters, would you agree to combine Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming into one state? Their combined population would still make them smaller than New York City so it seems reasonable to cut them down to just two Senators. ---
**Author:** ![TheGunIsMightierThanThePen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thegunismightierthanthepen/32/2981_2.png) [@TheGunIsMightierThanThePen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheGunIsMightierThanThePen)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/district-of-columbia-becomes-a-state-what-should-it-be-called/940553/73 "2021-04-24T15:46:59Z")
😆 👍 I suppose an explanation satisfying their rubes could come easily enough though, _Well you see, those evil Dems want to name it after some Black guy whose last name \*also\* happens to be Reagan …_ ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/district-of-columbia-becomes-a-state-what-should-it-be-called/940553/74 "2021-04-24T15:48:57Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > If you’re concerned about being fair to all voters, would you agree to combine Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming into one state? Sure. It’s impossible to do, though. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/district-of-columbia-becomes-a-state-what-should-it-be-called/940553/75 "2021-04-24T15:57:30Z")
> [@stuccosuperstar2020](#): > > According to the Washington Post it would renamed State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth. The sentiment is nice, but won’t having two states with the same name cause confusion? > > You really can’t stick with District of Columbia because its not longer just a “district”. You also can’t really call it anything with Columbia in it because the “District of Columbia” would still exist. A small section of current DC, including the Capitol and the White House, would remain in its own district, outside of any state. > [@RickJay](#): > > > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > > > If you’re concerned about being fair to all voters, would you agree to combine Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming into one state? > > Sure. It’s impossible to do, though. Well, it’s “possible,” but you would have to get the legislatures of at least four of those five states to agree to put themselves out of business. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/district-of-columbia-becomes-a-state-what-should-it-be-called/940553/76 "2021-04-24T16:04:23Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > You also can’t really call it anything with Columbia in it because the “District of Columbia” would still exist. A small section of current DC, including the Capitol and the White House, would remain in its own district, outside of any state. I don’t see that as a problem. We would have a state of Columbia and a District of Columbia (along with several towns and cities, a university, and a record company). We have a state of Washington and a city named Washington now and we manage. ---
**Author:** ![ctnguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@ctnguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctnguy)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/district-of-columbia-becomes-a-state-what-should-it-be-called/940553/77 "2021-04-24T16:04:26Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > You also can’t really call it anything with Columbia in it because the “District of Columbia” would still exist. A small section of current DC, including the Capitol and the White House, would remain in its own district, outside of any state. Is there any reason why the rump district has to be called the “District of Columbia” specificially? Could it not be named the “Federal Capital District” or something similar? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/district-of-columbia-becomes-a-state-what-should-it-be-called/940553/78 "2021-04-24T16:10:45Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Constitutionally there HAS to be a capital city that isn’t part of another state. So were the meetings of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5h Congresses unconstitutional because they met in cities that were parts of states? (New York and Philadelphia?) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/district-of-columbia-becomes-a-state-what-should-it-be-called/940553/79 "2021-04-24T16:11:48Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > So were the meetings of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5h Congresses unconstitutional because they met in cities that were parts of states? (New York and Philadelphia?) No rule says they always have to meet in the Capital. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/district-of-columbia-becomes-a-state-what-should-it-be-called/940553/80 "2021-04-24T16:12:59Z")
> [@ctnguy](#): > > Is there any reason why the rump district has to be called the “District of Columbia” specificially? Could it not be named the “Federal Capital District” or something similar? Well, indeed: > SEC. 111. Territory and boundaries. > … > (b) Exclusion of portion remaining as seat of Government of United States.—The territory of the State shall not include the area described in section 112, **which shall be known as the “Capital” and shall serve as the seat of the Government of the United State** s, as provided in clause 17 of section 8 of article I of the Constitution of the United States. > … Remember from all this discussion, it seems part of the political angle of the local establishment is for the name and identity of “Washington DC” to be retained by this newly-sovereign entity. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/district-of-columbia-becomes-a-state-what-should-it-be-called/940553.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/district-of-columbia-becomes-a-state-what-should-it-be-called/940553.md?page=5)