1791: When the District was formed, residents voted for and were represented by members of Congress in either Maryland or Virginia.

1801: The District of Columbia Organic Act combined the city of Washington and adjoining neighborhoods into the District of Columbia, redefined how the district would be governed, and stripped D.C. residents of representation in Congress.

1961: D.C. residents were given the right to vote for president.

1973: Home Rule gave D.C. residents the right to govern themselves - though with oversight from Congress (in which they do not have any representation of their own).

1978: A constitutional amendment that would have given D.C. full congressional representation failed to be ratified by the states.

2012: The Washington, D.C. City Council passed the Local Budget Autonomy Amendment Act, which would allow the District to spend local tax money without requiring Congressional approval.

2017: The Washington, D.C. Admission Act has been submitted to create the 51st state that would known as Washington, Douglass Commonwealth (previous bills would have had the new state named New Columbia).