District of Columbia Organic Act of 1878

E50383

The District of Columbia Organic Act of 1878 was a U.S. federal law that restructured Washington, D.C.’s government by establishing it as a permanently organized, federally controlled district without home rule.


Statements (40)
Predicate Object
instanceOf United States federal law
organic act
abolished home rule in the District of Columbia
aimedTo stabilize the finances and administration of the District of Columbia
appliesToJurisdiction District of Columbia
Washington, D.C.
centralized executive authority in a three-member Board of Commissioners
characterizedBy absence of local self-government in Washington, D.C.
codifiedIn United States Statutes at Large
country United States
created three-commissioner form of government for the District of Columbia
dateEnacted 1878
effectOnRepresentation left District of Columbia residents without voting representation in Congress
eliminated elected local legislature of the District of Columbia
elected mayor of Washington, D.C.
established District of Columbia as a permanently organized federal district
federally controlled government for the District of Columbia
followed financial crisis and mismanagement in the District of Columbia government in the 1870s
governanceModel federally appointed commissioners instead of elected local officials
governingStructure Board of Commissioners system for the District of Columbia
hasLongTermEffect federal dominance over District of Columbia governance until the 20th century
historicalContext Reconstruction-era reforms and retrenchment in the United States
implemented permanent form of government for the District of Columbia as opposed to temporary arrangements
legalArea constitutional law
municipal law
legalStatusConferred District of Columbia as a municipal corporation for certain purposes
legislativeBody United States Congress
partOf legal framework governing the federal district of the United States
precededBy District of Columbia Organic Act of 1871
provided that District of Columbia commissioners be appointed by the President of the United States
that District of Columbia commissioners be confirmed by the United States Senate
relatedTo District of Columbia Home Rule Act
history of Washington, D.C.
repealed District of Columbia Organic Act of 1871 in practice
replaced territorial-style government of the District of Columbia
restructured government of the District of Columbia
resultedIn direct federal control over local governance in Washington, D.C.
subjectOf debates over representation and home rule in Washington, D.C.
scholarly analysis in U.S. constitutional and municipal law
typeOfChange reorganization of local government structure

Referenced by (2)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
District of Columbia Organic Act of 1871
followedBy
District of Columbia Organic Act of 1878 ("Board of Commissioners system for the District of Columbia")
governingStructure

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