Is The District of Columbia the same as Washington DC? How does it all work?

Question

I know that District of Columbia is not a state, but does District of Columbia consist of just the city limits of Washington DC? Or are there other towns or villages in the District of Columbia?

And why is the District of Columbia not a state, and why is Washington DC not in a state? What is the benefit of doing this and do the people who live there get taxed alot under federal taxes?

Answer 1

Washington, D.C. is the capital city of the United States. "D.C." stands for the District of Columbia, the federal district coextensive with the city of Washington. The city is named after George Washington, military leader of the American Revolution and the first President of the United States.

The District of Columbia and the city of Washington are coextensive and are governed by a single municipal government, so for most practical purposes they are considered to be the same entity (this was not always the case, though, as there were multiple jurisdictions within the district as late as 1871, when Georgetown ceased to be a separate city within the District). Although there is a municipal government and a mayor, Congress has the supreme authority over the city and district, which results in citizens having a different status and less representation in government than residents of the states.

More at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_of_Columbia

Answer 2

The District of Columbia is the same as Washington DC. So it is Washington, in the District of Columbia.
The District of Columbia has no other towns in it.
It is not a state because it was set up to be only the location of where the federal government would make the laws and conduct the business of the rest of the country. And not to have the citizens influence the national government.

Answer 3

The answers above are correct. We're just one city with many neighborhoods, nothing like villages though, just like how Little Five Points is a neighborhood in Atlanta.

The people who live here pay the same federal taxes as any other US residents. But we do not have a voting congressman/congresswoman or senator. That's a really bad thing and our license plates now say "Taxation Without Representation" because that is what we get. We pick our own mayor and have votes for President via the Electoral College but we have no say in the House or the Senator.

The laws about how DC fits into the rest of the country were made at a time when very few people actually lived here and really need to be changed! DC is not in a state (not part of another state like VA or MD) because no one state should have a stronger "voice" in government than any other. If we were part of MD or VA, then those states might get preferential treatment when bills are voted on. But now that we have so many residents, we need to be able to have proper representation.

Answer 4

I think the whole district is made up of Washington, DC so I think it's the same thing. Georgetown is just a neighborhood of Washington.
like Tenleytown or Brookland.

The District is not a state for the same reason Mexico's Federal District is not a state either. It's just a federal area that holds the National Capital.

Answer 5

Yes. It's the capital of the United States and belongs to all the people not just one state. Congress has authority although there is a Mayor and City Council elected by the residents.

Most of the funding comes from Congress plus property taxes. So it cannot "influence" Congress...although it sends non-voting delegates to Congress for whatever good that does.

The car license plates read: Taxation Without Representation
a sign of how pissed off the residents are about it.

Pretty city, though. Easy to get around. Y'all come.

Answer 6

it is astounding!! exceptionally quickly, even the sluggish, closed-minded states like the staggering one I stay in (Louisiana) will follow in advantageous condition. perhaps... now that i imagine about it... Louisiana, Arkansas, perhaps no longer a lot!

Answer 7

check the yahoo.