Donald Trump's rocky departure from Washington sparks debate over making it America's 51st state
By Peter Jones and Emily Olson in Washington DC
Posted
ThuThursday 11
updated
FriFriday 12
MarMarch 2021 at 12:00am
Washington DC may be America's seat of power, but many people who live there feel powerless.
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More than 700,000 Americans live mere kilometres from the US Capitol but have no power to elect a representative with voting power inside the building.
Residents of Washington DC are required to pay federal taxes, follow federal laws and serve in the military when drafted.
Yet their highest elected federal representative, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, cannot vote on bills and only sits on committees. Even laws passed by the DC city council are subject to congressional approval.