May 3, 1802–Congress
grants the City of Washington
January 8, 1867–Congress
its first municipal charter.
grants black males the right to
Voters, defined as white males
vote in local elections.
who pay taxes and have lived in
the city for at least a year, receive
the right to elect a 12-member June 1, 1871–The elected
council. The president appoints mayor and council of the City
the mayor. of Washington and Georgetown
and the County Levy Court
are abolished by Congress
May 4, 1812–Congress
and replaced by a governor
amends the charter of the City
and council appointed by the
of Washington to provide for an
president. An elected House
eight-member board of alder-
1846–The Smithsonian
of Delegates and a nonvoting
men and a 12-member common
Institute is established.
delegate to Congress are cre-
council. The aldermen and com-
ated. In this act, the jurisdic-
mon council elect the mayor.
July 9, 1846–Congress
tion and territorial government
passes a law returning the city
came to be called the District of
of Alexandria and Alexandria
Columbia, thus combining the
County to the state of Virginia.
governments of Georgetown,
the City of Washington, and
the County of Washington. A
seal and motto, Justitia Omnibus
(Justice for All), are adopted for
the District of Columbia.
June 20, 1874–The territo-
rial government of the District
of Columbia, including the
nonvoting delegate to Congress,
is abolished. The president
appoints three temporary com-
missioners and a subordinate
military engineer.
June 11, 1878–In the
Organic Act of 1878, Congress
approves the establishment of
the District of Columbia gov-
ernment as a municipal corpora-
sketched by F. Dielman, Harper’s Weekly, May 12, 1866
tion governed by three presiden-
tially appointed commissioners,
1814–English troops burn the
two civilian commissioners,
Capitol and other federal build-
April 16, 1862–Congress
and a commissioner from the
ings during the War of 1812.
abolishes slavery in the federal
military corps of engineers. This
district (the City of Washington,
form of government lasted until
Washington County, and
August of 1967.
March 15, 1820–Under the Georgetown). This action pre-
Act of 1820, Congress amends dates both the Emancipation
the Charter of the City of Proclamation and the adop-
1888–Washington Monument
Washington, providing for the tion of the 13th Amendment
opens to the public.
direct election of the mayor by to the Constitution.
resident voters.
22 AMsTAT NeWs JANUARy 2009
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