Local Government

Washington has a mayor and a 13-member city council elected by residents. The U.S. Congress has control of the district's budget and also can veto any council action. In addition, a Presidentially appointed review board oversees the district's financial affairs. Permanent residents elect a nonvoting member to the House of Representatives and may vote for President. (The 23rd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution gave them the right to vote in Presidential elections and allotted the district three electoral votes.)

From 1802 to 1871 Washington had the mayoral form of government with an elected council. Then the city was given the same boundaries as the District of Columbia and a territorial government was established, with a governor appointed by the President and an elected house of delegates. From 1874 to 1974, when the present form of government was adopted, the district was governed by the U.S. Congress through officials appointed by the President.