Fixing the Hole in Our Democracy A Brief History Quiz
From the founding of the United States of America when only white males owning property were enfranchised, we have struggled to expand our democracy to more sectors of our community. This quiz traces some highlights of that journey.
Is the District of Columbia in the Constitution of the United States?
Yes, Article 1, Section 8 is sometimes called the District Clause. Article 1 describes the powers of Congress. Section 8 provides for a variety of money-related items taxes, duties, imposts, and so on. It also establishes a uniform naturalization system, post offices, copyright, courts, and military services. And it provides for a District, to be formed from the cessation of states, to be the federal seat of government. It specifies that the District shall be no larger than 10 miles square but it sets no lower size limit.
When did the District become the Capital of the new nation?
In 1801 Washington was officially declared the capital of the new United States. The new city had been created by Virginia ceding Alexandria and Arlington and Maryland ceding land that together formed a 100-square mile diamond. By order of the Organic Act of 1801, residents in this area were immediately deprived of their right to vote.
What is DC Emancipation Day?
Abraham Lincoln signed the Compensated Emancipation Act, which freed more than 3,000 slaves in the District of Columbia on April 16, 1862. Slavery did not end in the rest of the United States until the 13 th Amendment was ratified in 1865. April 16 has been a legal holiday in the District of Columbia since 2005. The emancipation of slaves is celebrated in Florida (May 20), Puerto Rico (March 22) and Texas (June 19). Many other countries have similar celebrations. Slavery was abolished in the British Empire on August 1, 1834.
What did the 19 th Amendment to the Constitution provide? When was it ratified?
Women s Suffrage Although many states already permitted women to vote, the amendment gave all women the right to vote. On August 18, 1920 the Tennessee legislature became the 36 th state to ratify. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby proclaimed it part of the Constitution August 26, 1920.
Brown vs. Board of Education Topeka When was this decision reached? Which Court handed down the decision? What was the outcome?
Paving the Way for Integration On May 17, 1954, the Warren Supreme Court held in favor of Brown. The plaintiffs were 13 Topeka parents on behalf of their 20 children. The Court declared separate schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional, particularly the 14 th Amendment. It paved the way for integration, but offered no plan.
What Step Did Rosa Parks Take?
She became the symbol of the modern Civil Rights Movement. On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks declined to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery Alabama. Her arrest led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott and her courage became a symbol of the modern Civil Rights Movement.
STATES MOST RECENTLY ADDED TO Which ones? THE UNION When? By what process?
Most Recently Added States Alaska joined the Union in January 1959. Hawaii joined the Union in August 1959. Both were added by passage of law by Congress.
District of Columbia residents were able to vote for President in what year?
1964 The 23rd Amendment to the Constitution was proposed to Congress on June 16, 1960 and ratified on March 29, 1961. The District is permitted the same number of electors in the Electoral College as the least populous state, so it gets 3 just as Wyoming does.
When was the landmark Civil Rights Act passed?
July 2, 1964 The Act outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It was intended to end unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in the schools, at the workplace, and in public accommodations. It was bitterly fought in Congress and initial enforcement was weak. Subsequent legislation strengthened it.
When was the Voting Rights Act passed? Has It remained unscathed?
Signed by President Johnson August 6, 1965 Legal barriers at the state and local levels had prevented African Americans from exercising their 15th Amendment rights. The law removed these barriers and stood for nearly 50 years. On June 25, 2013 the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on Shelby County vs. Holder. They found that section 4b was unconstitutional because the data were old. Since then many discriminatory laws have been passed.
What is the Home Rule Act? When was it passed?
The DC Self Government and Governmental Reorganization Act Passed by Congress on December 24, 1973. Devolved certain powers of Congress to DC. Provided for an elected mayor and 13 elected council members. Known as the Limited Home Rule Act. Congress retains veto powers over all legislation passed by the District Council and must approve the DC local budget. The President appoints District judges. The District cannot tax commuters who are not DC residents.
What is the Equal Representation Amendment?
Not statehood but Congressional Representation It would have given DC residents equal representation in Congress with 2 Senators and (at the time) 2 Representatives. Congress passed it in August 1978 and sent it to the states for ratification. Despite tremendous efforts, particularly by the League of Women Voters, only 16 states had ratified it when time ran out in 1985. Of the 6 amendments approved by Congress and not ratified, this and the Equal Rights Amendment had time limits.
Has a bill to declare the District of Columbia the 51 st state ever been considered in Congress?
Yes, and a bill reached the House floor in November 1992 HR 51 passed the House District Committee 7-4 on November 3. It was the first time a statehood bill had been debated on the floor of Congress, although bills have been introduced since 1965. HR 51 was defeated on November 21 by a vote of 153-277. The count was 151 Democrats, Independent Bernie Sanders, and Republican Wayne Gilchrist.
What was the DC Financial Control Board?
Congress Assuming Full Authority Over DC Laws and Fiscal Decisions Created by Congress with the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Act of 1995, the board had the power to override decisions by Washington's mayor and city council. At the time the city was mired in great financial difficulties. The Board was disbanded in September 2001 when the District achieved its 4 th balanced budget. Every year since then DC has managed a balanced budget and accumulated large surpluses.
What has the UN Human Rights Committee said about the District s lack of representation in Congress?
They declared it constitutes a human rights violation. On July 28, 2006, the Committee ruled that DC s lack of representation in Congress constitutes a human rights violation. Timothy Cooper, of Worldrights, argued that since 1801, the United States government has systematically denied the residents of the District of Columbia the right to enjoy equal participation in their own national legislature. The Committee monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), an international human rights treaty that the United States had ratified in 1992. More than 160 countries have ratified the treaty.
Has the District launched any new efforts to obtain full rights?
Yes the November 2016 ballot included a statehood referendum. The advisory referendum was to authorize the DC Council to petition Congress for statehood under what has been called the Tennessee plan, the first state to use a petition option in 1796. Residents were asked a 4- part question: 1. Do you want to be a state? 2. Do you approve the boundaries of the new state? 3. Do you approve a representative form of government? 4. Do you approve the Constitution?
League of Women Voters, DC lwvdc1920@gmail.com www.lwvdc.org Our thanks to Josh Burch, Neighbors United for DC Statehood, whose History Game served as the basis for this presentation.