d.c. statehood
“Voter disenfranchisement is a perfect contradiction to the idea of democracy. Denying D.C. Statehood amounts to nothing more than this perfect contradiction.”
-Denard
The Issue:
The District of Columbia is home to nearly 700,000 Americans; which is more than Vermont and Wyoming, respectively. Yet of the three, it is only the District of Columbia that lacks equal representation in the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government has an obligation to ensure that ALL of its eligible persons have equal access to free and fair elections. With approximately 320,000 African-Americans, Black people make up nearly 48% of the total District of Columbia population. The U.S. Government must release itself from the adherence to, and upholding of these vestiges of voter disenfranchisement and white supremacy in order to more fully become a Democratic nation.
Precedent:
Every State admitted to the Union since the ordinance of 7/13/1787 has followed this process, which was outlined in the aforementioned ordinance.
Constitutional Authority:
Article IV, Sec. 3 [Article IV] of the United States Constitution grants Congress the authority to admit States to the Union:
“New States may be admitted by the Congress into this union; but not new states shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, or parts of states, without the consent of the legislatures of the states concerned as well as of the Congress.
benefit to California:
The United States of America has a responsibility to ensure that its citizens have equal representation within the Government. By continuing to deny nearly 700,000 of its citizens their equal representation in the Government, the United States fails to meet that obligation. This not only weakens our Democracy, but it is also akin to voter disenfranchisement. We cannot continue to call ourselves a Democracy; the people’s government, made for the people, made by the people, and answerable to the people, if we do not give ALL the people a voice. Ensuring that we have free and fair elections benefits every Californian; and moves our country a step closer to being not just a more perfect Union, but a more equitable Union as well.