Washington, D.C.

Like it or loathe it, responsibility for the nation’s capital lies squarely on the shoulders of the Founding Fathers. In Article I of the Constitution they empowered Congress to “exercise exclusive Legislation in all cases whatsoever” over the seat of the U.S. government. Since 1800, when John and Abigail Adams moved into the White House—some of the paint and plaster were still wet—Washington, D.C., has been a free-standing city-state. Though answerable to Congress, lawmakers have, over time, allowed it varying...