List of District of Columbia ballot measures

The District of Columbia (a political division coterminous with Washington, D.C.) has had a system of direct voting since 1979, shortly after it gained home rule in 1973.

[2][3] Ballot measures have been used to legalize politically contentious policies such as local term limits, abolition of the tipped minimum wage,[4] cannabis use,[5] and advancements in the District of Columbia statehood movement.

In a substantial leap forward, the United States Congress passed the District of Columbia Home Rule Act in 1973, which devolved some of its powers to the city.

[4] Residents have also used ballot measures to expand their voting rights and (by extension) campaign for admitting the District of Columbia into the Union as the 51st state.

As a result, members of Congress, who do not represent the district and are not accountable to them, often add little-noticed clauses and amendments to the budget in order to manipulate or block the implementation of the city's laws.

[19] Two ballot measures were interfered with using this method: Initiative 77 was threatened by an amendment written by Congressmen Mark Meadows and Gary Palmer to block it from taking effect.