Government of the District of Columbia

The Government of the District of Columbia is the governmental structure of the U.S. federal district of the District of Columbia, as established by the Article One of the United States Constitution and the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. The Home Rule Act devolves certain powers of the United States Congress to the local government, which consists of a mayor and a 13-member council. However, Congress retains the right to review and overturn laws created by the council and intervene in local affairs.
As mandated in the Home Rule Act, the District of Columbia is organized into eight Wards for electoral and administrative purposes, numbered one through eight in a roughly clockwise spiral manner.