# Who Runs Wash DC? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 18, 2006, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-runs-wash-dc/357220 "2006-05-18T03:26:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-runs-wash-dc/357220/1 "2006-05-18T03:26:36Z")
Ok, pardon my asking, but I cannot say I’ve ever read the US Constitution word for word. (How many of us can?) So, I took my teachers’ word that the body describes how the USA’s Federal Government shall be structured. Recently, I heard it mentioned that it also lays out how the laws of the “federal district” (whatever city that shall be) shall fall under jurisdiction of the Federal government (or, words to this effect). Where is that, specifically within the US Constitution? And, if so, why then does Washington DC have a mayor? - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-runs-wash-dc/357220/2 "2006-05-18T03:35:18Z")
[QUOTE=Jinx] Ok, pardon my asking, but I cannot say I’ve ever read the US Constitution word for word. (How many of us can?) So, I took my teachers’ word that the body describes how the USA’s Federal Government shall be structured. Recently, I heard it mentioned that it also lays out how the laws of the “federal district” (whatever city that shall be) shall fall under jurisdiction of the Federal government (or, words to this effect). Where is that, specifically within the US Constitution? And, if so, why then does Washington DC have a mayor? - Jinx [/QUOTE] From Section 8, Article 1 of the Constitution: 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, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by the consent of the legislature of the state in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards, and other needful buildings In recent practice, this has tended to mean that, while the DC City Council makes laws, Congress has the right to review and override them. ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-runs-wash-dc/357220/3 "2006-05-18T03:38:00Z")
Thanks, Gov Quinn…I guess I was absent that day! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-runs-wash-dc/357220/4 "2006-05-18T03:41:34Z")
Congress also has some authority over the city’s budget, although the D.C. City Council has authority over non-federal money in the budget. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-runs-wash-dc/357220/5 "2006-05-18T03:50:15Z")
[QUOTE=Jinx] Ok, pardon my asking, but I cannot say I’ve ever read the US Constitution word for word. (How many of us can?) [/QUOTE] I have, lots of times. For Pete’s sake, the whole thing, including all the amendments, is only 5500 words. The original ten articles are only 2300 words. That’s ten minutes tops. It’ll be the best ten minutes you’ve ever spent. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-runs-wash-dc/357220/6 "2006-05-18T04:10:00Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] I have, lots of times. For Pete’s sake, the whole thing, including all the amendments, is only 5500 words. The original ten articles are only 2300 words. That’s ten minutes tops. It’ll be the best ten minutes you’ve ever spent. [/QUOTE] I agree. It isn’t even written in archaic or convoluted English. The foundations of our government are remarkably accessible to the average person. And the Declaration of Independence? Original Pit Rant, right there. It even has an itemized bitch list. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-runs-wash-dc/357220/7 "2006-05-18T04:12:06Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] It’ll be the best ten minutes you’ve ever spent. [/QUOTE] You need to get out more. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-runs-wash-dc/357220/8 "2006-05-18T14:22:45Z")
Here’s a summary from the DC City Council of the history of government in Washington DC, to help answer your question. [http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/history.html](http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/history.html) ---
**Author:** ![ZomZom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zomzom/32/5620_2.png) [@ZomZom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZomZom)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-runs-wash-dc/357220/9 "2006-05-18T15:51:53Z")
And [here’s the constitution](http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution_transcript.html) for those who would like to read it. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-runs-wash-dc/357220/10 "2006-05-18T15:59:32Z")
[QUOTE=Princhester] You need to get out more. 😉 [/QUOTE] Man, if you think ten minutes is a good time… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-runs-wash-dc/357220/11 "2006-05-18T16:07:34Z")
[QUOTE=Jinx] I cannot say I’ve ever read the US Constitution word for word. (How many of us can?) [/QUOTE] We read it, word for word, in junior year of high school. It’s neither long nor hard to read. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-runs-wash-dc/357220/12 "2006-05-18T18:23:59Z")
Back to the question at hand, the Constitution gives Congress the exclusive right to exercise jurisdiction over the District of Columbia. In 1974, Congress passed the Home Rule Act, which created a city council and a mayor to, more or less, oversee the day-to-day operations of city functions. Major actions, like passing a city budget, was largely retained by Congress. In 1995, Congress expressed its serious dissatisfaction with the way Mayor Marion Berry was running the city, and passed the DC Fiscal Responsibility and Management Assistance Act. This legislation created a Control Board to oversee and review the DC city government’s budgetary actions until the District could turn its huge budget deficits around. A huge amount of reform happened in the late '90s, and after DC had several years of budgetary surpluses, the Control Board was disbanded and the city council regained its power, which is where things stand today. Congress still has a central role in the budgeting process, and could, at any moment, step in to revise any law that applies to DC – for example, Congress has recently debated creating a school voucher system in DC, ending DC’s ban on possession of guns, and tinkering with abortion laws. Congress could even just up and decide to get rid of the City Council once and for all, but that is something not under serious consideration at this point. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-runs-wash-dc/357220/13 "2006-05-18T18:41:36Z")
[QUOTE=Jinx] Ok, pardon my asking, but I cannot say I’ve ever read the US Constitution word for word. (How many of us can?) [/QUOTE] You ask this of Dopers? ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2006, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-runs-wash-dc/357220/14 "2006-05-18T21:40:39Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] I have, lots of times. For Pete’s sake, the whole thing, including all the amendments, is only 5500 words. The original ten articles are only 2300 words. That’s ten minutes tops. It’ll be the best ten minutes you’ve ever spent. [/QUOTE] Yeah, it’s quite easy reading. I’m sort of surprised that many people haven’t. Shouldn’t you at very least have been required to do it in school at some point? ---
**Author:** ![tiel0301](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b38774/32.png) [@tiel0301](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiel0301)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-runs-wash-dc/357220/15 "2006-05-19T04:13:30Z")
[QUOTE=Jinx] Ok, pardon my asking, but I cannot say I’ve ever read the US Constitution word for word. (How many of us can?) [/QUOTE] You have got to be kidding me. Are you serious? You’re an American citizen. That’s your JOB. People who can’t fucking speak understandable English can read and understand the Constitution to the point of passing citizenship tests, and you can’t take 45 seconds to do a Google search and 10 minutes to read the document? And you’re eligible to VOTE? Since you’re too damn dumb to read the foundation of your own goddamn government I’ll doubt you’re intelligent enough to understand how fucking stupid you sound. Asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-runs-wash-dc/357220/16 "2006-05-19T04:29:41Z")
\ Official warning, **tiel0301**. While comments like yours are expected and even sometimes appreciated in the Pit, you’re totally out of line in GQ. Tone it down. This is your only warning. \ ---
**Author:** ![tiel0301](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b38774/32.png) [@tiel0301](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiel0301)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-runs-wash-dc/357220/17 "2006-05-19T04:32:25Z")
[QUOTE=Rico] \ Official warning, **tiel0301**. While comments like yours are expected and even sometimes appreciated in the Pit, you’re totally out of line in GQ. Tone it down. This is your only warning. \ [/QUOTE] Thanks for the advice. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-runs-wash-dc/357220/18 "2006-05-19T14:02:06Z")
[QUOTE=tiel0301] Thanks for the advice. [/QUOTE] That ain’t advice dude, thats an order. ---
**Author:** ![tiel0301](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b38774/32.png) [@tiel0301](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiel0301)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-runs-wash-dc/357220/19 "2006-05-19T14:11:28Z")
[QUOTE=askeptic] That ain’t advice dude, thats an order. [/QUOTE] I typed specifically about “While comments like yours are expected and even sometimes appreciated in the Pit”. More than one clause in those four sentences, n’est-ce pas? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-runs-wash-dc/357220/20 "2006-05-19T17:50:04Z")
I am quite familiar with the Constitution and actually read it more than just occasionally. I have yet to see anything in that esteemed document that designates it the job of an American citizen to know it. Of course it would be a good thing if all citizens did know what the document says; however, that is not their job. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-runs-wash-dc/357220.md?page=2)