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The federal government has “exclusive jurisdiction” over the District – and D.C. has no representation – because the founders feared a repeat of a 1783 demonstration when soldiers seeking back pay tried to take the PA state house where the Continental Congress met.
To protect Congress, they figured, Congress needed to meet somewhere that wasn’t controlled by any state.
“It’s important that people understand that the reason for exclusive jurisdiction was none other than the defense of Congress from mobs,” historian Kenneth Bowling told me.
“It’s important that people understand that the reason for exclusive jurisdiction was none other than the defense of Congress from mobs,” historian Kenneth Bowling told me.
Remember that this week, when it turned out the federal government actually *wasn’t* able to protect Congress from a mob.
Who came in to clear and secure the capitol? The D.C. police, paid for by D.C. taxpayers.
Who came in to clear and secure the capitol? The D.C. police, paid for by D.C. taxpayers.
the hypocrisies in D.C.'s lack of representation repeatedly astound me (same with the absolute historical consistency of politicians claiming, for 250 years, that "no one actually lives there").
