I 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5968 

To establish the charter for the government of the District of Columbia. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 29, 2010 

Ms. NORTON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the 

Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 

as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To establish the charter for the government of the District 

of Columbia. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may cited as the ‘‘District of Columbia Full 

5 Self-Government Act’’. 


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1 TITLE I—STATUS OF THE 

2 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 

3 SEC. 101. STATUS OF THE DISTRICT. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—All of the territory constituting 

5 the permanent seat of the Government of the United 

6 States shall continue to be designated as the District of 

7 Columbia. The District of Columbia shall remain and con8 tinue a body corporate, as provided in section 2 of the 

9 Revised Statutes relating to the District (sec. 1–102, D.C. 

10 Official Code). 

11 (b) NO EFFECT ON EXISTING LAWS.—No law or reg12 ulation which is in force on the effective date of this Act 

13 shall be deemed amended or repealed by this Act except 

14 to the extent specifically provided herein or to the extent 

15 that such law or regulation is inconsistent with this Act, 

16 but any such law or regulation may be amended or re17 pealed by act or resolution as authorized in this Act, or 

18 by Act of Congress. 

19 (c) NO EFFECT ON BOUNDARY LINE.—Nothing con20 tained in this section shall affect the boundary line be21 tween the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of 

22 Virginia as the same was established or may be subse23 quently established under the provisions of title I of the 

24 Act of October 31, 1945 (59 Stat. 552). 


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1 SEC. 102. LEGISLATIVE POWER OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 

2 Except as provided in section 202, the legislative 

3 power of the District of Columbia shall extend to all right4 ful subjects of legislation within the District consistent 

5 with the Constitution of the United States and the provi6 sions of this Act subject to all the restrictions and limita7 tions imposed upon the States by the tenth section of the 

8 first article of the Constitution of the United States. 

9 TITLE II—LEGISLATIVE BRANCH 

10 SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COUNCIL. 

11 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a Council 

12 of the District of Columbia (hereafter in this Act referred 

13 to as the ‘‘Council’’), and the members of the Council shall 

14 be elected by the registered qualified electors of the Dis15 trict. 

16 (b) POWERS, ORGANIZATION, AND PROCEDURE.— 

17 The powers, organization, and procedure of the Council 

18 shall be set forth under such laws as may be enacted by 

19 the District of Columbia consistent with the provisions of 

20 this Act. 

21 SEC. 202. LIMITATIONS ON AUTHORITY. 

22 The Council shall have no authority to pass any act 

23 contrary to the provisions of this Act except as specifically 

24 provided in this Act, or to— 

25 (1) impose any tax on property of the United 

26 States or any of the several States; 


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1 (2) lend the public credit for support of any pri2 vate undertaking; 

3 (3) enact any act, or enact any act to amend 

4 or repeal any Act of Congress, which concerns the 

5 functions or property of the United States or which 

6 is not restricted in its application exclusively in or 

7 to the District of Columbia; 

8 (4) enact any act, resolution, or rule with re9 spect to any provision of title 11 of the District of 

10 Columbia Official Code (relating to organization and 

11 jurisdiction of the District of Columbia courts); 

12 (5) impose any tax on the whole or any portion 

13 of the personal income, either directly or at the 

14 source thereof, of any individual not a resident of 

15 the District (the terms ‘‘individual’’ and ‘‘resident’’ 

16 in this paragraph to have the meaning given such 

17 terms in section 47–1801.04, D.C. Official Code); 

18 (6) enact any act, resolution, or rule which per19 mits the building of any structure within the District 

20 of Columbia in excess of the height limitations con21 tained in section 5 of the Act of June 1, 1910 (sec. 

22 5–405, D.C. Official Code), and in effect on the ef23 fective date of this Act; 

24 (7) enact any act, resolution, or regulation with 

25 respect to the Commission of Mental Health; 


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1 (8) enact any act or regulation relating to the 

2 United States District Court for the District of Co3 lumbia or any other court of the United States in 

4 the District other than the District courts, or relat5 ing to the duties or powers of the United States at6 torney or the United States Marshal for the District 

7 of Columbia; or 

8 (9) enact any act, resolution, or rule with re9 spect to the District of Columbia Financial Respon10 sibility and Management Assistance Authority estab11 lished under section 101(a) of the District of Colum12 bia Financial Responsibility and Management As13 sistance Act of 1995. 

14 TITLE III—EXECUTIVE BRANCH 

15 SEC. 301. OFFICE OF THE MAYOR. 

16 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Of17 fice of the Mayor of the District of Columbia, and the 

18 Mayor shall be elected by the registered qualified electors 

19 of the District. 

20 (b) POWERS AND DUTIES.—The powers and duties 

21 of the Mayor of the District of Columbia, and the organi22 zation of the Office of the Mayor of the District of Colum23 bia, shall be set forth under such laws as may be enacted 

24 by the District of Columbia consistent with the provisions 

25 of this Act. 


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1 SEC. 302. TREATMENT OF EMPLOYEES FORMERLY COV2 ERED BY FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM. 

3 In the case of persons employed by the District gov4 ernment immediately preceding the effective date of the 

5 personnel system established by the District government 

6 pursuant to section 422(3) of the District of Columbia 

7 Home Rule Act, the personnel system of the District gov8 ernment may provide for continued participation in all or 

9 part of the Federal Civil Service System and shall provide 

10 for benefits, including but not limited to pay, tenure, leave, 

11 residence, retirement, health and life insurance, and em12 ployee disability and death benefits, all at least equal to 

13 those provided by legislation enacted by Congress, or regu14 lation adopted pursuant thereto, and applicable to such 

15 officers and employees immediately prior to such date, ex16 cept that nothing in this Act shall prohibit the District 

17 from separating an officer or employee subject to such sys18 tem in the implementation of a financial plan and budget 

19 for the District government approved under subtitle A of 

20 title II of the District of Columbia Financial Responsi21 bility and Management Assistance Act of 1995. 

22 SEC. 303. RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN MUNICIPAL PLAN23 NING ACTIVITIES. 

24 The Mayor’s planning responsibility shall not extend 

25 to Federal and international projects and developments in 

26 the District, as determined by the National Capital PlanVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:22 Jul 31, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5968.IH H5968

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1 ning Commission, or to the United States Capitol build2 ings and grounds as defined in chapter 51 of title 40, 

3 United States Code, or to any extension thereof or addi4 tion thereto, or to buildings and grounds under the care 

5 of the Architect of the Capitol. 

6 SEC. 304. EMERGENCY CONTROL OF METROPOLITAN PO7 LICE DEPARTMENT. 

8 (a) AUTHORITY OF PRESIDENT TO EXERCISE CON9 TROL IN EMERGENCIES.— 

10 (1) AUTHORITY.—Notwithstanding any other 

11 provision of law, whenever the President of the 

12 United States determines that special conditions of 

13 an emergency nature exist which require the use of 

14 the Metropolitan Police force for Federal purposes, 

15 he may direct the Mayor to provide him, and the 

16 Mayor shall provide, such services of the Metropoli17 tan Police force as the President may deem nec18 essary and appropriate. 

19 (2) LIMITATION OF DURATION OF AUTHOR20 ITY.—In no case shall services made available pursu21 ant to any direction of the President under this sub22 section extend— 

23 (A) for a period in excess of 48 hours un24 less the President has, prior to the expiration of 

25 such period, notified the chairman and ranking 


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1 minority member of the Committee on Over2 sight and Government Reform of the House of 

3 Representatives and the chairman and ranking 

4 minority member of the Committee on Home5 land Security and Governmental Affairs of the 

6 Senate, in writing, as to the reason for such di7 rection and the period of time during which the 

8 need for such services is likely to continue; or 

9 (B) for any period in excess of 30 days, 

10 unless the Senate and the House of Representa11 tives enact into law a joint resolution author12 izing such an extension. 

13 (b) TERMINATION.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 

15 the services made available in accordance with sub16 section (a) shall terminate upon the end of such 

17 emergency, the expiration of a period of 30 days fol18 lowing the date on which such services are first 

19 made available, or the enactment into law of a joint 

20 resolution by the Congress providing for such termi21 nation, whichever first occurs. 

22 (2) SPECIAL RULE IN CASE OF ADJOURNMENT

23 OF CONGRESS SINE DIE.—Notwithstanding para24 graph (1), in any case in which services are made 

25 available in accordance with subsection (a) during 


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1 any period of an adjournment of the Congress sine 

2 die, such services shall terminate upon the end of 

3 the emergency, the expiration of the 30-day period 

4 following the date on which Congress first convenes 

5 following such adjournment, or the enactment into 

6 law of a joint resolution by the Congress providing 

7 for such termination, whichever first occurs. 

8 TITLE IV—JUDICIAL BRANCH 

9 SEC. 401. JUDICIAL BRANCH. 

10 The judicial powers of the District of Columbia, and 

11 the provisions of the charter of the District of Columbia 

12 government which are applicable to the judges and courts 

13 of the District of Columbia, shall be those set forth in 

14 part C of title IV of the District of Columbia Home Rule 

15 Act (sec. 1–204.31 et seq., D.C. Official Code), as in effect 

16 on the effective date of this Act. 

17 TITLE V—BUDGET AND 

18 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT 

19 SEC. 501. APPLICATION OF LAWS ESTABLISHED BY DIS20 TRICT OF COLUMBIA. 

21 (a) BUDGET AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.—Sub22 ject to this Act, the process by which the District of Co23 lumbia develops and enacts the budget for the District 

24 government for a fiscal year, and the activities carried out 

25 with respect to the financial management of the District 


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1 government for a fiscal year, shall be established under 

2 such laws as may be enacted by the District. 

3 (b) BORROWING.—Subject to this Act, the process 

4 and rules by which the District of Columbia issues bonds 

5 or otherwise borrows money shall be established under 

6 such laws as may be enacted by the District. 

7 SEC. 502. FULL FAITH AND CREDIT OF UNITED STATES NOT 

8 PLEDGED. 

9 The full faith and credit of the United States is not 

10 pledged for the payment of any principal of or interest 

11 on any bond, note, or other obligation issued by the Dis12 trict of Columbia, and the United States is not responsible 

13 or liable for the payment of any principal of or interest 

14 on any bond, note, or other obligation issued by the Dis15 trict. 

16 SEC. 503. FEDERAL TAX EXEMPTION. 

17 Bonds and notes issued by the District of Columbia 

18 and the interest thereon shall be exempt from all Federal 

19 taxation except estate, inheritance, and gift taxes. 

20 SEC. 504. LEGAL INVESTMENT IN BONDS AND NOTES 

21 ISSUED BY DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 

22 Notwithstanding any restriction on the investment of 

23 funds by fiduciaries contained in any other law, all domes24 tic insurance companies, domestic insurance associations, 

25 executors, administrators, guardians, trustees, and other 


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1 fiduciaries within the District of Columbia may legally in2 vest any sinking funds, moneys, trust funds, or other 

3 funds belonging to them or under or within their control 

4 in any bonds issued by the District of Columbia. National 

5 banking associations are authorized to deal in, underwrite, 

6 purchase and sell, for their own accounts or for the ac7 counts of customers, bonds and notes issued by the Dis8 trict to the same extent as national banking associations 

9 are authorized by paragraph seven of section 5136 of the 

10 Revised Statutes (12 U.S.C. 24), to deal in, underwrite, 

11 purchase and sell obligations of the United States, States, 

12 or political subdivision thereof. All Federal building and 

13 loan associations and Federal savings and loan associa14 tions, and banks, trust companies, building and loan asso15 ciations, and savings and loan associations, domiciled in 

16 the District may purchase, sell, underwrite, and deal in, 

17 for their own account or for the account of others, all 

18 bonds or notes issued by the District of Columbia. Nothing 

19 contained in this section shall be construed as relieving 

20 any person, firm, association, or corporation from any 

21 duty of exercising due and reasonable care in selecting se22 curities for purchase or investment. 


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1 TITLE VI—RETENTION OF 

2 FEDERAL AUTHORITIES 

3 SEC. 601. RETENTION OF CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORITY. 

4 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, Con5 gress reserves the right, at any time, to exercise its con6 stitutional authority as legislature for the District of Co7 lumbia, by enacting legislation for the District on any sub8 ject, whether within or without the scope of legislative 

9 power granted to the Council by this Act, including legisla10 tion to amend or repeal any law in force in the District 

11 prior to or after the effective date of this Act and any 

12 act passed by the Council. 

13 SEC. 602. LIMITATION ON AUTHORITY OF DISTRICT OVER 

14 CERTAIN AGENCIES. 

15 Nothing in this Act shall be construed as vesting in 

16 the District of Columbia government any greater authority 

17 over the National Zoological Park, the National Guard of 

18 the District of Columbia, the Washington Aqueduct, the 

19 National Capital Planning Commission, or over any Fed20 eral agency, than was vested in the Commissioner of the 

21 District of Columbia established under Reorganization 

22 Plan Numbered 3 of 1967 prior to January 2, 1975. 


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1 TITLE VII—TERMINATION OF EX2 ISTING CHARTER; TRANSI3 TION 

4 SEC. 701. TERMINATION OF EXISTING CHARTER. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in section 401 

6 and subsection (b), the District of Columbia Home Rule 

7 Act (sec. 1–201.01 et seq., D.C. Official Code) is repealed. 

8 (b) NO EFFECT ON AMENDATORY PROVISIONS.— 

9 Nothing in subsection (a) shall be construed to affect any 

10 provision of law which is amended or repealed by the Dis11 trict of Columbia Home Rule Act. 

12 SEC. 702. NO EFFECT ON EXISTING OBLIGATIONS. 

13 (a) BUDGETS.—Nothing in this Act or in the amend14 ment made by section 701 may be construed to relieve the 

15 District of Columbia of any contractual or other financial 

16 obligations incurred by the District under a budget en17 acted for a fiscal year prior to the effective date of this 

18 Act. 

19 (b) BORROWING.—Nothing in this Act or in the 

20 amendment made by section 701 may be construed— 

21 (1) to relieve the District of Columbia of any 

22 obligation incurred with respect to bonds or other 

23 forms of borrowing issued prior to the effective date 

24 of this Act; or 


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1 (2) to waive the application to the District of 

2 Columbia of any other Federal law governing the 

3 borrowing of funds by States or units of local gov4 ernment, including the Internal Revenue Code of 

5 1986. 

6 SEC. 703. NO EFFECT ON INDIVIDUALS HOLDING POSI7 TIONS WITHIN DISTRICT GOVERNMENT. 

8 Nothing in this Act or in the amendment made by 

9 section 701 may be construed to affect the status of any 

10 individual who holds elective or appointed office in, or is 

11 an officer or employee of, the government of the District 

12 of Columbia as of the effective date of this Act. 

13 SEC. 704. NO EFFECT ON PENDING ACTIONS OR PRO14 CEEDINGS. 

15 No suit, action, or other judicial proceeding lawfully 

16 commenced by or against any officer or agency in his or 

17 its official capacity or in relation to the exercise of his 

18 or its official functions, and no administrative action or 

19 proceeding lawfully commenced, shall abate by reason of 

20 this Act or the amendment made by section 701. 

21 TITLE VIII—EFFECTIVE DATE 

22 SEC. 801. EFFECTIVE DATE. 

23 This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall 

24 take effect on the effective date of legislation enacted by 


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1 the District of Columbia after the date of the enactment 

2 of this Act which establishes— 

3 (1) the powers, organization, and procedure of 

4 the Council of the District of Columbia; and 

5 (2) the powers and duties of the Mayor of the 

6 District of Columbia, and the organization of the Of7 fice of the Mayor of the District of Columbia. 

Æ 


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