Competency: Reference, Research and Patron Services

Target Audience: Reference librarians and other librarians who are interested in learning about District of Columbia home rule and representation

Learning Outcomes:

1) Participants will be prepared to perform research on issues of D.C. law.

2) Participants will be able to explain how the issues of home rule and representation affect D.C. citizens.

The District of Columbia, as a capital city established under the United States Constitution, is not a state, and the local government structure was formed by an act of Congress. Consequently, the District of Columbia receives special treatment under the law, limiting the representation of its citizens in the federal government and subjecting the legislation passed by the Council of the District of Columbia to congressional review. Presenters will focus on this special treatment. One speaker will provide an overview of the legislative history of efforts seeking the vote for D.C. citizens, and another will describe the consequences of this special treatment. The final speaker will identify issues unique to researching the laws of the District of Columbia, such as how the federal home rule statute affects the effective date of the legislation of the Council of the District of Columbia. Attendees will leave with an understanding of the complex and unique issues that may arise when researching local D.C. law.