Washington, D.C.: Taxation Without Representation

Washington, D.C., residents are surrounded by politicians, but do not have a voting representative in Congress.

If you ever visit the U.S. capital, you may notice license plates branded with the phrase “Taxation Without Representation.” That’s because residents of Washington, D.C., pay taxes to the federal government, but do not have a voting representative in the U.S. Congress.

When the Residence Act designated Washington the nation’s capital in 1790, it stipulated that the District of Columbia was a federal territory and thus not a part of any state. Because the U.S. Constitution affords only states elected representation, D.C. residents were left without. In fact, D.C. residents have no senators, one nonvoting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives and three electoral votes for the U.S. presidency.

Washington, D.C., does have a mayor and a city council of 13 elected representatives. The U.S. Congress, however, has control of the district's budget and can veto any council action. D.C. residents use their license plates as a vehicle of subtle protest against this situation.

Find out more about Washington, D.C., at DiscoverAmerica.com.