Isabella Carter
The location of a capital city is an important consideration for any nation, and the Framers of the U.S. Constitution knew this. While the Constitution does not specify a location for the capital, it does grant Congress exclusive jurisdiction over the city. The Residence Act of 1790 approved the creation of a national capital on the Potomac River, with the exact location to be chosen by President George Washington. This led to the establishment of Washington, D.C., as the capital city of the United States, with the White House and the Capitol building serving as important centers of government.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | The U.S. Constitution does not specify a location for the capital, but it does require that it be a Federal City, not controlled by a state government. |
| Congress Jurisdiction | Congress has exclusive jurisdiction over the capital city, with the power to legislate "in all cases whatsoever". Congress can devolve authority to the elected mayor and council of the District of Columbia but retains the right to overturn any legislation and intervene in local affairs. |
| Seat of Government | The "Seat of the Government" is designated as the Capitol, where the House and Senate meet and craft the country's laws. |
| Journals | Each House must keep and publish a Journal, recording the proceedings of the House. |
| Adjournment | Neither House may adjourn for more than three days without the consent of the other. |
| Temporary Structure | There is no specific mention of a temporary structure for Congress in the Constitution. However, in practice, Congress can meet in temporary locations in cases of reconstruction or other needs. |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution does not specify a location for the capital
The 1790 Compromise agreed that the federal government would pay each state's remaining Revolutionary War debts in exchange for establishing the new national capital in the Southern United States. On July 9, 1790, Congress passed the Residence Act, which approved creating a national capital on the Potomac River. The exact location was to be selected by President George Washington, who signed the bill into law on July 16, 1790.
The initial shape of the federal district was a square measuring 10 miles (16 km) on each side and totaling 100 square miles (259 sq km). Two pre-existing settlements were included in the territory: the port of Georgetown, founded in 1751, and the port city of Alexandria, Virginia, founded in 1749. The city was formed from land donated by Maryland and Virginia.
Article One, Section Eight of the United States Constitution grants the United States Congress exclusive jurisdiction over the city. Congress has the right to enact any legislation for the District so long as it is constitutionally permissible, to overturn any legislation by the city government, and technically to revoke the city government at any time. Congress may also exercise jurisdiction over land purchased from the states for the erection of forts and other buildings.
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The capital should be a Federal City, not state-controlled
The United States Constitution of 1789 called for the creation of a federal district under the exclusive jurisdiction of the US Congress. The framers of the US Constitution realized that the capital should be a Federal City, not one controlled by a state government. This was because no state should have an advantage over the other states, and the federal government needed to be in charge of its own house.
The Residence Act, which was passed in 1790, established the national capital at a site along the Potomac River that would become Washington, D.C. The exact location was to be selected by President George Washington, who signed the bill into law on July 16, 1790. The initial shape of the federal district was a square measuring 10 miles (16 km) on each side and totaling 100 square miles (259 sq km). Two pre-existing settlements were included in the territory: the port of Georgetown and the port city of Alexandria, Virginia.
In November 1800, President John Adams moved into the White House, and in the same month, the Congress began conducting its business in the unfinished Capitol. Washington, D.C. has been the federal capital of the United States since 1800. The city hosts buildings that house federal government headquarters, including the White House, US Capitol, Supreme Court Building, and multiple federal departments and agencies.
Congress has the exclusive right to legislate "in all cases whatsoever" for the nation's capital, the District of Columbia. While Congress chooses to devolve some of this authority to the elected mayor and council of the District of Columbia, it remains free to enact any legislation for the District so long as it is constitutionally permissible, to overturn any legislation by the city government, and technically to revoke the city government at any time.
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Congress has exclusive jurisdiction over the capital
The United States Constitution, in Article One, Section 8, grants Congress the power to legislate exclusively "in all cases whatsoever" for the nation's capital, the District of Columbia. This means that Congress has the authority to enact any legislation for the district as long as it is constitutionally permissible and can overturn any laws passed by the city government.
The establishment of a capital city was addressed by the Framers of the U.S. Constitution, who recognized the need for a Federal City that was not under the control of any state government. This ensured that no single state had an advantage over the others, and the federal government had autonomy. The District of Columbia, with its centre, Washington, became the seat of the U.S. government.
The Constitution grants Congress the authority to exercise exclusive legislation over a district not exceeding ten miles square, which became the District of Columbia. This district was chosen by the President and included the established port of Georgetown. The White House and the Capitol were constructed, and in 1800, Congress began conducting its business in the Capitol.
While Congress has the power to devolve authority to the elected mayor and council of the District of Columbia, it maintains the right to revoke this authority at any time. Additionally, Congress can exercise jurisdiction over land purchased from states for the construction of forts and other buildings. This ensures that Congress has the necessary power to govern and provide for the capital city's needs.
The U.S. Constitution's grant of exclusive jurisdiction to Congress over the capital city ensures that the federal government has the authority to make decisions and enact legislation in the best interests of the nation as a whole, without interference from individual states. This provision was carefully considered by the Framers to create a balanced and equitable system of government.
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The Residence Act of 1790 approved a capital on the Potomac River
The United States Constitution, being a democracy in a world full of monarchies, was unique in many ways. One of the unique aspects was that the location of the capital city was addressed by the Framers of the Constitution. The Framers realized that the capital had to be a Federal City, not one controlled by a state government. This was because no state should have an advantage over the other states, and the federal government needed to be in charge of its own house.
The Residence Act of 1790, officially titled "An Act for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the Government of the United States," was passed on July 16, 1790. The Act approved a site on the Potomac River as the permanent US capital, which is now Washington, D.C. The Act was the result of a compromise between Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison regarding the permanent location of the Federal capital. In exchange for locating the new capital on the Potomac River, Madison agreed not to block legislation mandating the assumption of the states' debts by the Federal government.
The site on the Potomac River was chosen over another serious contender on the Susquehanna River near Wrights Ferry (now Columbia, Pennsylvania). The House approved the Susquehanna River site in September 1789, but the Senate bill specified a site on the Delaware River near Germantown, Pennsylvania. The House and Senate were unable to agree on a single site, so the selection of a location for the capital resurfaced in the summer of 1790.
The Residence Act designated Philadelphia as the temporary capital for a period of ten years while the new seat of government was being built. The Act also set a deadline of December 1800 for the capital to be ready. President George Washington began work on the project soon after signing the Act, and he personally oversaw the process as plans were developed and implemented. The cornerstone for the White House was laid on October 13, 1792, and that for the Capitol, on August 18, 1793. In November 1800, President John Adams moved into the White House, and Congress began conducting its business in the unfinished Capitol.
The Constitution grants Congress the exclusive right to legislate "in all cases whatsoever" for the nation's capital, the District of Columbia. Congress may enact any legislation for the District so long as it is constitutionally permissible, and it can overturn any legislation by the city government.
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The exact location was chosen by President George Washington
The U.S. Constitution in 1789 called for the creation of a federal district under the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. Congress. The framers of the Constitution realized that the capital city needed to be a Federal City, not one controlled by a state government. Thus, the Residence Act, passed on July 9, 1790, approved the creation of a national capital on the Potomac River, with the exact location to be selected by President George Washington. Washington chose the exact site along the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers, and the city was founded in 1790 after Maryland and Virginia ceded land to this new "district". The initial shape of the federal district was a square measuring 10 miles (16 km) on each side and totalling 100 square miles (259 sq km). The city was named "Washington" after the first president of the United States, and the district was named Columbia, the female personification of the nation.
President Washington commissioned Pierre Charles L'Enfant, a French-born military engineer and artist, to design the new capital. L'Enfant's plan featured broad streets and avenues radiating out from rectangles, providing room for open space and landscaping. His design also envisioned a garden-lined grand avenue about 1 mile (1.6 km) long and 400 feet (120 m) wide in an area that is now the National Mall, inspired by the grounds at Versailles and Tuileries Gardens. L'Enfant's plan was influenced by Paris, his native city, and included maps of Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Strasbourg, Orleans, Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Turin, and Milan.
In 1791 and 1792, a team led by Andrew Ellicott surveyed the borders of the federal district and placed boundary stones at every mile point. Many of these stones are still standing. The cornerstone for the White House was laid in 1792, and that for the Capitol in 1793. In November 1800, President John Adams moved into the White House, and Congress began conducting its business in the unfinished Capitol.
Although Washington, D.C. is the capital city and federal district of the United States, it is ironic that its residents lack full self-governance. The district did not have an elected local government until the passage of the 1973 Home Rule Act, which devolved certain Congressional powers to an elected mayor and a 13-member Council. However, Congress retains the right to review and overturn laws created by the council and intervene in local affairs.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution does not specify a location for the capital. However, Article One, Section Eight of the United States Constitution grants the United States Congress exclusive jurisdiction over the city.
The Residence Act of 1790 approved the creation of a national capital on the Potomac River. President George Washington was given the authority to select the exact location.
The Framers of the Constitution realized that the capital needed to be a Federal City, not controlled by a state government. This was a departure from the traditional model, where capitals were seats of royal power.
