The Constitution and the District of Columbia
Toggle open close The Congress shall have Power To… exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States… (The U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 8, Clause 17) In The Federalist No. 43, James Madison explained the need for a "federal district," subject to Congress's exclusive jurisdiction and separate from the territory, and authority, of any single state: The indispensable necessity of compleat...
Source: heritage.org