District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801

The charters of the existing cities of Georgetown and Alexandria were left in place and no change was made to their status.

The common law of both Maryland and Virginia remained in force within the district.

[2] On May 3, 1802, the City of Washington was granted a municipal government consisting of a mayor appointed by the president of the United States.

This left district residents unable to vote for members of Congress.

There have been several efforts to give the inhabitants of the district representation, but the United States remains perhaps the only modern republic where residents of its own capital are disenfranchised.