Council of the District of Columbia

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Council of the District of Columbia

Type Unicameral
Chairman of the Council Vincent C. Gray, Democratic Party
since September 12, 2006
Members 13
Political groups Democratic Party
Republican Party
Independents
Last elections November 7, 2006
Meeting place Washington D.C.
Web site http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/

The Council of the District of Columbia is the legislative branch of the local government of Washington, D.C. Because the United States Constitution places the District of Columbia under the sole control of Congress, all acts of the Council of the District of Columbia are subject to Congressional veto, and thus the Council has less power than most city councils in the United States. However, because the District is not part of any state, Congress has devolved many powers normally exercised by state governments to the District's government; thus, the Council considers many matters that would fall to county and state legislatures elsewhere in the United States.

Contents

[edit] History

The council was created by the passage of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act by Congress in 1973. This act gave D.C. residents the right to elect a local government with limited authority with its acts subject to the approval of Congress, and was an important achievement of the effort for District of Columbia home rule. Previously, D.C. had been governed directly by Congress through the Committees on the District of Columbia.

[edit] Composition

The Council, as of August 2007. Standing (left to right): Jim Graham, Muriel Bowser, Harry Thomas Jr., Tommy Wells, Yvette Alexander, Marion Barry, Phil Mendelson, Mary Cheh. Seated (left to right): David Catania, Carol Schwartz, Vincent C. Gray, Jack Evans, Kwame R. Brown
The Council, as of August 2007. Standing (left to right): Jim Graham, Muriel Bowser, Harry Thomas Jr., Tommy Wells, Yvette Alexander, Marion Barry, Phil Mendelson, Mary Cheh. Seated (left to right): David Catania, Carol Schwartz, Vincent C. Gray, Jack Evans, Kwame R. Brown

The council is composed of thirteen members, each elected by District residents to a four-year term. [1] The members fall into the following categories:

  • The chairman of the council, elected by the electorate of the District as a whole. [1]
  • Eight members, each of whom is elected from one the District's eight wards. [1]
  • Four at-large members representing the District as a whole. [1] The terms of the at-large members are staggered so that two are elected every two years, and each D.C. resident has two votes in the at-large election. The two at-large members elected cannot be from the same party; thus, if the top two vote getters in an election come from Party A and the third-place candidate is from Party B, the first- and third-place candidates would be the winners. In practice, District politics are almost completely dominated by the Democratic Party, and the only non-Democratic Council members are usually at-large members.

[edit] Requirements for office

  • resident of the District of Columbia for at least one year prior to the general election [1]
  • registered voter [1]
  • if running for a particular ward, then must be a resident of that ward [1]
  • hold no other public office for which compensation beyond expenses is received [1]

[edit] Current party affiliations of the Council of the District of Columbia

Affiliation Members
  Democratic Party 11
  Republican Party 1
  Independent 1
 Total
 13

[edit] Current members of the Council

[edit] Committees

  • Committee of the Whole (COW)
  • Committee on Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
  • Committee on Economic Development
  • Committee on Education, Libraries and Recreation
  • Committee on Finance and Revenue
  • Committee on Government Operations
  • Committee on Health
  • Committee on Human Services
  • Committee on the Judiciary
  • Committee on Public Works and the Environment

[edit] Special Committees

  • Special Committee on A Comprehensive Policy For Local, Small, And Disadvantaged Business Enterprises
  • Special Committee on The Prevention Of Youth Violent Crime
  • Special Committee on Vocational Education And Jobs For District Residents

[edit] Officers of the Council

Council officers are recommended by the Council Chairman and are approved by a majority of the Council. [1] The following positions are officers of the Council.

  • General Counsel
    • acts as chief parliamentarian of the Council
    • provides advice to the Council on legislative policy
    • represents the Council in legal actions
    • assists Councilmembers in drafting legislation
  • Secretary to the Council
    • chief administrative officer
    • keeps the legislative records
    • makes information available to the public
  • Budget Director
    • reviews the proposed annual operating budget
    • analyses the fiscal impact of all legislation and contracts

[edit] Council Periods

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Organizational Structure". Council of the District of Columbia. Retrieved 2008-04-07.

[edit] External links

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