Home Rule and Statehood

By: Miriam Edelman

Home rule and statehood for the District of Columbia are frequently discussed together, but they are not the same. D.C. does not have either, as it has limited home rule and is not a state (although it is “treated as a state in more than 500 federal laws”). Some of DCNOW’s previous blog posts have discussed home rule and/or statehood.

Home Rule

Home rule is the ability of D.C.’s elected government to be in charge of D.C. If D.C. were to have true home rule, the federal government would not review most D.C. government-passed legislation and budget, D.C. would control its own finances, the Mayor would control D.C.’s National Guard, and D.C.’s judges would be appointed by the Mayor or elected by D.C. voters. However, under D.C.’s limited home rule, the federal government must approve most legislation that the D.C. government passes, the federal government has control over D.C.’s finances, and the President controls D.C.’s National Guard and appoints D.C. judges.

As shown in recent years, D.C.’s limited home rule can be threatened and curtailed. During multiple Congresses, Members of Congress introduced bills that would end D.C.’s home rule. The federal government also prevented D.C. government-passed legislation from becoming law and prevented D.C. from spending $1.1 billion of its own money.

As D.C. has no voting representation in the U.S. Congress and as Members of Congress like to hear from only their own constituents, D.C. residents have no voting Member of Congress to contact about Congressional interference and their views about national and international issues.

Statehood

Statehood encompasses much more than home rule. It means home rule and full voting representation in the U.S. Congress. If D.C. were a state, its residents finally would have control over its local issues and an actual voice in national and international affairs. Congress no longer could micromanage D.C. and inflict its policy views so much. In addition, D.C. residents would finally elect voting Members of Congress.

Statehood would more permanently protect D.C. Statehood has never been revoked from a state. Presumably, if D.C. were to become a state, history would hold true.

Final Thoughts

Attacks on D.C.’s limited home rule, especially during the past few years, show that statehood is the only option for D.C. As the U.S. looks to its upcoming 250^th birthday, it is past time to give the same rights to D.C. residents that colonists gained when the 13 colonies became the United States.