The city was governed by commissioners who chose Andrew Ellicott to survey the city and to complete the plan left by Pierre Charles L'Enfant. Benjamin Banneker, an African American from Maryland well known for his contributions as a scientist, astronomer, and skilled mathematician, assisted Ellicott in laying out the Capital city.

As the new city took shape, Washington became the official home of the federal capital in 1800. The city continued to develop, and in 1802 the city of Washington was incorporated and a local government was established. The President of the United States appointed a mayor and a twelve-member city council, but as time progressed, the government structure changed as often as did Congress. In 1804 Congress authorized the election of two houses of the city council, and in 1812 the city elected their first mayor.

In 1917 a Constitutional amendment was introduced in Congress granting District residents voting representation in Congress. While this amendment did not pass at that time, District residents were eventually given the right to vote in time for the presidential election of 1961.

In 1967 President Lyndon Johnson established a presidentially-appointed Commissioner-Council government. Many municipal functions were transferred from federal agencies to the Commissioner. Walter Washington was the first Commissioner elected by District residents, and a school board and local court system were elected in 1968. Residents gained tremendous representation in Congress in 1970 with the election of a non-voting delegate, Walter Fauntroy, in the House of Representatives.

The first measure of self-government in almost 100 years came in 1973 with the signing of the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act of 1973 , "the Charter," by President Nixon. The Charter was approved by the electorate on May 7, 1974 along with the election of the Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners.

The Home Rule Act established for the first time an Office of the Mayor which is a unique institution in American government. Although the title is "Mayor," the executive responsibilities include those of a combined city mayor, a county executive, and a state governor who deals directly with the chief executives and other officials of the fifty states and territories.

The District electorate approved a statehood initiative in 1980 with 60% of residents voting. The delegates were elected in 1981 and convened a statehood Constitutional convention to draft a constitution for the State of New Columbia. A bill was introduced in 1983 into Congress for the admission of the State of New Columbia, but did not pass. Today, the District of Columbia is a unique governmental unit in the federal system as, under the Constitution, Congress has exclusive legislative power over the District.

(Source: Government of the District of Columbia)