50 Years Of Home Rule: A History Of D.C.’s Struggle For (Semi-) Self Governance

Fifty years ago, D.C. residents gained the right to elect their own mayor and council members. It was the first time in generations that Washingtonians would head to the polls to vote for a local government. But home rule, as it’s known, was and still is very limited. Unlike residents of the 50 states, Washingtonians still have no vote in the U.S. House or Senate, and Congress can review and overturn laws passed by the the city’s elected officials. The District has a non-voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives and two non-voting “shadow” senators.