Mayor of the District of Columbia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mayor of the District of Columbia |
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Seal of the District of Columbia
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| Government of the District of Columbia | |
| Appointer | Electorate of the District of Columbia |
| Term length | Four years, renewable with no limit |
| Inaugural holder | Walter Washington |
| Formation | 1973 |
| Salary | US$250,000 |
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The mayor of the District of Columbia is like the top leader of the local government in Washington, D.C. Think of them as the city's chief executive. The mayor makes sure that the laws of the district are followed. They also have the power to approve or reject new laws passed by the D.C. Council.
The mayor is in charge of many important services for the district. This includes public property, police and fire departments, and most public agencies. They also oversee the public school system. The mayor manages a large annual budget, which is currently around $8.8 billion. The mayor's main office is in the John A. Wilson Building in Downtown Washington, D.C.. The mayor also chooses several important officials. These include deputy mayors for education and economic development. They also appoint the head of the public schools and leaders for other district agencies.
Contents
How D.C. Was Governed Over Time
When the District of Columbia was officially created in 1801, it was made up of five smaller areas. These included three cities with their own governments and two rural counties. The City of Washington was one of these cities. It had its own mayors from 1802 to 1871.
- From 1802 to 1812, the President of the United States chose the mayor. The first mayor of Washington City was Robert Brent, picked by President Thomas Jefferson in 1802.
- Between 1812 and 1820, a special council chose the city's mayors.
- In 1820, the rules changed. People could then vote for the mayor. But only white men who owned property could vote at first.
- In 1848, the rule about owning property was removed.
- In 1867, Congress allowed Black men to vote. This happened even though President Andrew Johnson disagreed.
During this time, the District of Columbia as a whole did not have a single leader like a governor.
In 1871, a new law called the District of Columbia Organic Act combined the different parts of the district. These parts were Washington City, Georgetown, and Washington County. They all became one government. The job of mayor was ended. Instead, a governor chosen by the president led the district. Later, a group of three commissioners took over until 1967.
In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson created a more modern government. It was led by one commissioner, often called the "mayor-commissioner." There was also a nine-member council. The president appointed all of these leaders. Walter E. Washington was the first person to hold this job. He was the only one to serve in that role.
When the Mayor's Job Was Created
In 1973, Congress passed the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. This law allowed D.C. residents to elect their own mayor and a 13-member council. The first elections happened the next year. Walter Washington, who was the mayor-commissioner, was elected as the first home-rule Mayor of the District of Columbia. This happened on November 5, 1974. He started his term on January 2, 1975. This was the first time in over 100 years that D.C. had a government chosen by its own people.
After Walter Washington, Marion Barry became mayor in 1979. He served three terms. In 1991, Sharon Pratt Kelly became the first woman to lead the district.
Marion Barry was elected mayor again in 1994. By 1995, the district was facing serious money problems. Congress then created the District of Columbia Financial Control Board. This board was set up to watch over all the district's spending. It helped the district government get back on track.
Mayor Anthony Williams was elected in 1998. During his time, the district became more successful and had extra money. The district regained control of its finances in 2001. The oversight board then stopped its work.
Williams did not run for reelection in 2006. Councilmember Adrian Fenty won the election and became mayor in 2007. He got approval to improve the district's public school system. However, Fenty lost the next election to Vincent Gray in 2010. Mayor Gray took office in January 2011. He promised to bring more economic chances to all residents.
Gray then lost the 2014 election to Councilmember Muriel Bowser. She won the general election and was reelected in 2018 and 2022. This makes her only the second person to serve three terms in a row as Mayor of the District of Columbia.
Today, the mayor of the District of Columbia is chosen by voters. They serve a four-year term. There is no limit to how many terms a mayor can serve. Even though D.C. is not a state, its government has some duties like a state government. This means the mayor's job is similar to that of state governors.
How Mayors Are Elected
The mayor is elected every four years. They can be re-elected as many times as the voters choose. To be a candidate, a person must live and be registered to vote in D.C. for at least one year before the election. Elections happen in November, in the same year as the midterm Congressional elections.
Most voters in D.C. are Democrats (over 80 percent). So, the mayor is usually decided in the Democratic primary election. This primary election is held on the second Tuesday in September.
The mayor takes office on January 2 after the election. They say an oath to promise to do their job well. The oath is:
I, (mayor's name), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the laws of the United States of America and of the District of Columbia, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of Mayor of the District of Columbia, which I am about to enter.
Who Takes Over If the Mayor Can't Serve?
If a mayor dies, resigns, or cannot do their job, the chairman of the D.C. Council becomes the acting mayor. This happens if the mayor did not name someone else to take over. The chairman serves until a special election can be held. The special election must happen at least 114 days after the mayor's job becomes empty. It is held on the first Tuesday after that time. As of September 2024, this has never happened.
What the Mayor Does
The mayor has many important duties and powers:
- They must make sure all district laws are followed.
- They manage and organize all district departments. This includes choosing a District Administrator and department heads. The council must approve these choices.
- They set goals and plans for the council.
- They prepare and submit the district's budget at the end of each financial year.
- They can approve or reject new laws passed by the D.C. Council.
- They can suggest new laws to the council.
- They can propose federal laws or actions directly to the President or Congress of the United States.
- As the head of the district's executive branch, the mayor can create executive orders. These are rules for the departments and officials they oversee.
- They can reorganize parts of the executive branch. The council can formally disagree with these changes.
- The mayor also has the right to speak to the council or any of its committees.
See also
- List of mayors of Washington, D.C.
- Timeline of Washington, D.C.
