Sources
- https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/amendments-11-27
The National Archives provides the official text and historical context of the 23rd Amendment, making it a reliable source for constitutional amendments. - https://www.senate.gov/civics/constitution_item/constitution.htm#amendments
The U.S. Senate's official website offers authoritative information on constitutional amendments, including the 23rd Amendment, ensuring accuracy and reliability. - https://www.loc.gov/law/help/statutes-at-large/87th-congress/session-1/c87s1ch61.pdf
The Library of Congress provides the full text of Public Law 87-389, which enacted the 23rd Amendment, offering primary source documentation. - https://www.history.com/topics/us-government/23rd-amendment
History.com offers a detailed overview of the 23rd Amendment, including its historical background and significance, making it a useful educational resource. - https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/51
The official Congress website provides information on the DC Statehood movement, including recent legislative efforts, which is relevant for understanding current debates around the 23rd Amendment.
Key Points
- The 23rd Amendment grants Washington, DC residents the right to vote in Presidential elections and representation in the Electoral College.
- DC's number of electors is equal to what it would have if it were a state, but no more than the least populous state.
- DC has a non-voting delegate in Congress, meaning residents lack full congressional representation.
- The 23rd Amendment was proposed in 1960 and ratified in 1961, with Ohio being the 38th state to approve it.
- The amendment treats DC as a state for Electoral College purposes only, not for other governmental functions.
- DC was established as the U.S. capital in 1800 but lacked voting rights for its residents until the 23rd Amendment.
- By 1960, DC's population had grown to 760,000, prompting the need for electoral representation.
- The 23rd Amendment does not grant DC statehood or full congressional representation.
- DC residents pay taxes and can be drafted but lack voting representation in Congress.
- A DC statehood movement seeks full congressional representation and statehood for the District.
Summary
The 23rd Amendment, ratified in 1961, grants Washington, D.C. residents the right to vote in presidential elections and allocates them electoral votes equivalent to the least populous state, though it does not make D.C. a state or provide full congressional representation. While D.C. has a non-voting delegate in Congress, the amendment ensures its citizens can participate in national elections despite lacking statehood. The ongoing D.C. statehood movement seeks to address these representation gaps by advocating for full voting rights in Congress.
What Is the 23rd Amendment?
Section One of the 23rd Amendment gives people who live in the District of Columbia suffrage in Presidential elections. DC voters now have representation in the Electoral College.
These electors vote for President and Vice President based on whichever candidate wins most of the District’s votes.
This constitutional amendment stipulates the overall number of electors that the District of Columbia receives would be the same as the number of Senators they would have if they were a State, but not more than the least populous state, regardless of the population.
The District of Columbia has a delegate that serves in Congress on behalf of the people living in the area. However, that delegate has no voting rights in Congress.
Interpreting the Amendment
The 23rd Amendment of the United States Constitution was proposed by Congress on June 16, 1960, and ratified on March 29, 1961.
Ohio was the state that fulfilled the requirement in Article V of the United States Constitution that three-fourths of states must ratify an amendment before it is passed.
When Ohio approved Amendment XXIII, it became the thirty-eighth state to do so. Six months later, Public Law number 87-389 was enacted by Congress.
The law confirmed the District of Columbia’s logistics concerning the Presidential election.
The constitutional amendment treats the District of Columbia as a state for the Electoral College purposes only. It, therefore, enables the citizens’ votes to be tallied in the nationwide Presidential elections.
A Brief History of the Nation’s Capital
In 1790 Philadelphia was the capital of the United States for ten years after the Constitution was ratified. Before this, New York was the capital. The District of Columbia was named the Government’s official seat in 1800.
When Washington DC was first established, the town’s population was small. It stood at only five thousand people.
However, the District was a federal territory, not a state of the union. This meant that no local government governed the people, so they couldn’t participate in national elections to vote.
The population in the District of Columbia continued growing, and by 1960, it reached 760,000 residents.
By this time, the residents now had full citizenship rights and responsibilities and the right to vote on appropriate legislation.
They were supposed to pay all the required taxes and were eligible to be enlisted to perform duties in the military.
The Difference Between the District and a State
For citizens in the other thirteen states, more voting rights were handed to them than district residents. This happened even though the states had a much lower population than the District.
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However, the Twenty Third Amendment does not automatically make Washington DC a State. The residents are not granted the number of electors they would have had if Washington DC was a State.
The residents also do not get representation in Congress provided by the Twenty Third Amendment.
Washington DC has only one non-voting representative to the House of Representatives for its residents.
Amendment XXIII does not interfere with how governing takes place in the District. Congress stipulates the District’s form of Government.
Interestingly, a DC Statehood movement aims to achieve statehood for the District of Columbia and full voting representation in Congress.
One Response
The modern day writer/author of this article wrote, “The 2nd Amendment to the Constitution is a single sentence with profound implications. It reads: “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
I believe the write/author does not understand or take into consideration the writing styles and punctuation practice of our 1780-’90 era Founding Fathers…
For example, one sentence may and often does contain more than one thought separated commonly during the 1780-’90 era by innocuous commas (,) or semi-colons (;) or colons (:).
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
The 2nd Amendment has at least two or three such subjects: a) A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, … Note that a Militia is not a “National Guard”. The National Guard is regulated, controlled and paid by the National Government whereas a “militia” is a strict volunteer organization of pure volunteers who elect their officers and commanders and pay for their own uniforms, equipment and weapons; b) the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, Note this means exactly what it reads…the RIGHT to KEEP and BEAR, i.e. carry Arms and c) shall not be infringed. Note this subject applies to either or both subject “A well regulated Militia” and/or “the right to keep and bear Arms. Note: “shall not be infringed” meaning will not be infringed upon by Government…