Changes

'''Washington, D.C.''', also known as the '''District of Columbia''', since 1800 has been the capital of the [[United States]].<ref>http://www.senate.gov/reference/reference_item/Nine_Capitals_of_the_United_States.htm</ref>

'''Washington, D.C.''', also known as the '''District of Columbia''', since 1800 has been the capital of the [[United States]].<ref>http://www.senate.gov/reference/reference_item/Nine_Capitals_of_the_United_States.htm</ref>

Legally the name of the city is "District of Columbia".<ref>[http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsl&fileName=016/llsl016.db&recNum=0454 District of Columbia Organic Act of 1871.] [[Library of Congress]]</ref><ref> [http://countystation.com/washingtondc.html District of Columbia Information.]</ref>

Legally the name of the city is "District of Columbia".<ref>[http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsl&fileName=016/llsl016.db&recNum=0454 District of Columbia Organic Act of 1871.] [[Library of Congress]]</ref><ref>[http://countystation.com/washingtondc.html District of Columbia Information.]</ref>

[[File:DC2.jpg|thumb|400px]]

[[File:DC2.jpg|thumb|400px]]

==Design==

==Design==

The voters in Washington are 90% Democratic. It is America's fourth-most liberal city.<ref>http://www.govpro.com/News/Article/31439/</ref> The current mayor of the District of Columbia is [[Vincent C. Gray]].

The voters in Washington are 90% Democratic. It is America's fourth-most liberal city.<ref>http://www.govpro.com/News/Article/31439/</ref> The current mayor of the District of Columbia is [[Vincent C. Gray]].

===Elected officials===  

===Elected officials===

* [[Vincent C. Gray]], Mayor.

* [[Vincent C. Gray]], Mayor.

===Constitutional and legal disputes===

===Constitutional and legal disputes===

On March 9, 2007, the [[United States Court of Appeals]] for the District of Columbia Circuit struck down Washington, D.C.'s ban on private [[handgun]] possession, as it pertains to carrying them inside one's own home, on the grounds that the [[Second Amendment]] guarantees the right of individual citizens to keep and bear firearms.<ref name="Parker">''See Parker v. District of Columbia'', 478 F. 3d 370 (2007) [quoted in ''District of Columbia v. Heller'', 554 U.S. ____ (2008).]</ref>  In a dissent, however, one judge wrote that the District of Columbia is not a [[state]] and therefore the [[Second Amendment]] does not apply within the District of Columbia. Washington, D.C.'s handgun ban was one of the most restrictive [[gun control]] laws in the nation.<ref>http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyid=2007-03-09T223851Z_01_N09246717_RTRUKOC_0_US-USA-GUNS-RULING.xml&src=rss</ref>  On June 26, 2008, the [[Supreme Court]] affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeals.<ref name="Heller">''District of Columbia v. Heller'' [http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/07pdf/07-290.pdf]</ref>

On March 9, 2007, the [[United States Court of Appeals]] for the District of Columbia Circuit struck down Washington, D.C.'s ban on private [[handgun]] possession, as it pertains to carrying them inside one's own home, on the grounds that the [[Second Amendment]] guarantees the right of individual citizens to keep and bear firearms.<ref name="Parker">''See Parker v. District of Columbia'', 478 F. 3d 370 (2007) [quoted in ''District of Columbia v. Heller'', 554 U.S. ____ (2008).]</ref>  In a dissent, however, one judge wrote that the District of Columbia is not a [[state]] and therefore the [[Second Amendment]] does not apply within the District of Columbia. Washington, D.C.'s handgun ban was one of the most restrictive [[gun control]] laws in the nation.<ref>http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyid=2007-03-09T223851Z_01_N09246717_RTRUKOC_0_US-USA-GUNS-RULING.xml&src=rss</ref>  On June 26, 2008, the [[Supreme Court]] affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeals.<ref name="Heller">[http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/07pdf/07-290.pdf ''District of Columbia v. Heller'']</ref>

[[Image:Washington Monument and WWII memorial.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The WWII memorial and Washington Monument]]  

[[Image:Washington Monument and WWII memorial.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The WWII memorial and Washington Monument]]  

License plates in Washington, D.C. read "taxation without representation," referring to the fact that citizens of the District pay federal income taxes but do not have voting representation in either the [[United States Senate|Senate]] or [[House of Representatives]].<ref>http://dmv.dc.gov/serv/plates/tax.shtm</ref>  These plates do not appear on the presidential limousines. [[George W. Bush|George Walker Bush]] had the plates removed from the limousines after his inauguration, reversing [[Bill_Clinton|William Jefferson Clinton's]] policy.<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E0DB173CF93AA25752C0A9679C8B63</ref>  The capital has an elected House representative, Eleanor Holmes Norton, but she can only vote in committee, not on the floor.<ref name="alas"/><ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/05/AR2011010501936_2.html? Boehner elected House speaker as 112th Congress convenes]</ref>

License plates in Washington, D.C. read "taxation without representation," referring to the fact that citizens of the District pay federal income taxes but do not have voting representation in either the [[United States Senate|Senate]] or [[House of Representatives]].<ref>http://dmv.dc.gov/serv/plates/tax.shtm</ref>  These plates do not appear on the presidential limousines. [[George W. Bush|George Walker Bush]] had the plates removed from the limousines after his inauguration, reversing [[Bill Clinton|William Jefferson Clinton's]] policy.<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E0DB173CF93AA25752C0A9679C8B63</ref>  The capital has an elected House representative, Eleanor Holmes Norton, but she can only vote in committee, not on the floor.<ref name="alas"/><ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/05/AR2011010501936_2.html? Boehner elected House speaker as 112th Congress convenes]</ref>

Since 1992, Washington, D.C. has offered [[domestic partnership]]s.<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/domestic-partnership-in-the-united-states Answers.com]</ref>  In 2009, the D.C. Council enacted a law, effective March 3, 2010, that "expanded the

Since 1992, Washington, D.C. has offered [[domestic partnership]]s.<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/domestic-partnership-in-the-united-states Answers.com]</ref>  In 2009, the D.C. Council enacted a law, effective March 3, 2010, that "expanded the

November 19, 2012|first=Alan|last=Blinder|work=Washington Examiner|accessdate=November 21, 2012}}</ref>

November 19, 2012|first=Alan|last=Blinder|work=Washington Examiner|accessdate=November 21, 2012}}</ref>

Current city councilman [[Marion Barry]] has previously served as Mayor from 1979 to 1991, and from 1995 to 1999.  While Mayor, he was arrested for crack cocaine possession.<ref>{{cite news |title= Barry Arrested on Cocaine Charges in Undercover FBI, Police Operation |work= The Washington Post |date= January 19, 1990 |page= A1 |first= Sharon |last= LaFraniere |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/tours/scandal/barry.htm }}</ref>  After serving his sentence, he successfully ran for city councilman in 2004.  In November 2012, Barry organized the distribution of free Thanksgiving turkeys in his Ward that was funded by a $30,000 donation.  DC law does not require disclosure of the donors, so Barry declined to name the funders, saying it's only "liberal white folks" who are interested in disclosure rules for turkey giveaways.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2012/11/19/barry-only-liberal-white-folks-care-who-pays-for-my-turkey-giveaway/|title=Barry: Only “Liberal White Folks” Care Who Pays for My Turkey Giveaway|first=Alan|last=Suderman|date=Nov. 19, 2012|work=Washington City Paper|accessdate=November 21, 2012}}</ref>

Current city councilman [[Marion Barry]] has previously served as Mayor from 1979 to 1991, and from 1995 to 1999.  While Mayor, he was arrested for crack cocaine possession.<ref>{{cite news |title= Barry Arrested on Cocaine Charges in Undercover FBI, Police Operation |work= The Washington Post |date= January 19, 1990 |page= A1 |first= Sharon |last= LaFraniere |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/tours/scandal/barry.htm }}</ref>  After serving his sentence, he successfully ran for city councilman in 2004.  In November 2012, Barry organized the distribution of free Thanksgiving turkeys in his Ward that was funded by a $30,000 donation.  DC law does not require disclosure of the donors, so Barry declined to name the funders, saying it's only "liberal white folks" who are interested in disclosure rules for turkey giveaways.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2012/11/19/barry-only-liberal-white-folks-care-who-pays-for-my-turkey-giveaway/|title=Barry: Only "Liberal White Folks" Care Who Pays for My Turkey Giveaway|first=Alan|last=Suderman|date=Nov. 19, 2012|work=Washington City Paper|accessdate=November 21, 2012}}</ref>

== Symbols ==

== Symbols ==

{{Clear}}

{{Clear}}

==See Also==

==See also==

[[File:Tulips White House.jpg|right|240px]]

[[File:Tulips White House.jpg|right|240px]]

* [[White House]]

* [[White House]]

* [[Famous American Buildings]]

* [[Famous American Buildings]]

* [[United States Capitol]]

* [[United States Capitol]]

* [[Gun control]] -- Washington D.C., along with [[San Francisco values|San Francisco]], [[New York City]], [[Los Angeles]] and [[Chicago]], is known to be one of the 5 top [[American]] cities with the most [[left-wing]] [[Second Amendment|Anti-Second Amendment]] laws, yet high [[crime]] rates. See "[[Vote with your feet]]" [[strategic relocation]] to [[Free States Movement|free states]] with low [[population density]]

* [[Gun control]]—Washington D.C., along with [[San Francisco values|San Francisco]], [[New York City]], [[Los Angeles]] and [[Chicago]], is known to be one of the 5 top [[American]] cities with the most [[left-wing]] [[Second Amendment|Anti-Second Amendment]] laws, yet high [[crime]] rates. See "[[Vote with your feet]]" [[strategic relocation]] to [[Free States Movement|free states]] with low [[population density]]

[[Image:US Capitol.jpg|thumb|left|US Capitol.]]

[[Image:US Capitol.jpg|thumb|left|US Capitol.]]

{{Clear}}

{{Clear}}

== External Links ==

== External links ==

*[http://www.washington.org/ What's hot in Washington, DC.]

*[http://www.washington.org/ What's hot in Washington, DC.]

*[http://www.vrc.dc.gov/vrc/cwp/view.asp?a=1196&q=446778&vrcNav_GID=1408&portal_link=hr Tours] Official website of the Government of the District of Columbia.

*[http://www.vrc.dc.gov/vrc/cwp/view.asp?a=1196&q=446778&vrcNav_GID=1408&portal_link=hr Tours] Official website of the Government of the District of Columbia.

<references/>

<references/>

[[Category : Capital Cities]]

[[Category:Capital Cities]]

[[Category : United States Cities and Towns]]

[[Category:United States Cities and Towns]]

[[Category : Urban History]]

[[Category:Urban History]]

[[Category : DC| ]]

[[Category:DC| ]]

[[Category : Anti Second Amendment]]

[[Category:Anti Second Amendment]]

[[Category : Gun control]]

[[Category:Gun control]]

[[Category : Most Liberal American Cities]]

[[Category:Most Liberal American Cities]]