Overview

Read on for some statistics and insights about the level of civic engagement, political engagement and a “state of the state” overview of D.C.

 

 

Civic and Political Engagement

According to the Corporation for National and Community Service for 2018:

  • 39.8% of residents volunteer, ranking them 7th among the 50 states and Washington, D.C.
  • 226,786  volunteers
  • 19.4 million hours of service
  • $469.3 million worth of service contributed

Looking at political engagement specifically, according to this 2018 Wallethub.com study, D.C. ranks #1 based on a weighted average across the following metrics:

  • Percentage of Registered Voters in the 2016 Presidential Election
  • Percentage of Electorate Who Actually Voted in the 2014 Midterm Elections
  • Percentage of Electorate Who Actually Voted in the 2016 Presidential Election
  • Change in Percentage of Electorate Who Actually Voted in the 2016 Elections Compared with the 2012 Elections
  • Total Political Contributions per Adult Population
  • Civic Education Engagement, CIRCLE
  • Voter Accessibility Policies, Ballotpedia

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Center for Responsive Politics, Ballotpedia and Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, CIRCLE.

 

Women in D.C. Politics:

Washington, D.C. does not have a state legislature, as it is not a state. It has a municipal government, made up of a city council, which is the primary legislative body, and the Mayor, who serves as the chief executive officer of the district (Ballotpedia).

See how many women serve on the D.C. City Council here.

 

What color is D.C.?

D.C. has three electoral votes. It is “the only non-state to be enfranchised for presidential elections, gaining electoral votes through the ratification of the 23rd Amendment in 1961,” according to 270towin. Additionally, “the vote has always been heavily Democratic; no Republican has ever won an electoral vote.  In the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton received about 22 votes for each one vote for Donald Trump.”

 

State of the State

State Government Structure

D.C. has a municipal form of government known as “mayor-council government.”  The city council serves as the city’s primary legislative body, drafting and voting on legislation, approving the city’s annual budget, and setting the revenue required to fund the budget.  The council also appoints members to board and commissions and approves appointments made by the mayor. It is has thirteen members.  There are eight members elected by each of the city’s wards, and five who are elected at-large.

The mayor is the city’s chief executive. He or she proposes the budget, signs legislation into law, and appoints departmental directors and committee members.  The mayor also manages the city’s daily operations (Ballotpedia).

 

Budget Process

According to the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute, the Mayor’s office spends September to February planning for the upcoming fiscal year. In October and November, the Executive branch provides each agency with a target budget number. Agencies return their draft budgets to the Mayor and then meet to discuss the budgets in December and January. In March or April, the D.C. Council reviews the budget proposed and holds public hearings, and approves the final budget in May.

 

Additional Resources

  • PEW Fiscal 50: State Trends and Analysis
  • PEW Women in Leadership  – see analysis of women in leadership on a national scale
  • National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO) Fiscal Survey of States
  • Compare 50 – pick what stats you want to compare with what states here
  • State Data Lab – compare a variety of factors among states here
  • Freedom in the 50 States 2018  – Cato
  • Tax Foundation facts and figures app is available for download

 

What You Can Do

As detailed above, Washingtonians have expansive potential for engaging in civic-minded and fiscally responsible activity. By forming Policy Circles in the District, women can lead the way in ensuring that policies are working and responding to individual needs at the local level.

 

Here’s what you can do:   

  • Click “It’s easy, start now” at www.thepolicycircle.org  to start a circle in your area.  
  • Read our “Year of Conversation” for an overview of policy briefs on key issues affecting the country and your state.
  • DC is home to many think tanks. See this list from State Policy Network for listings. 
  • Tell a friend or family member about The Policy Circle by sending them to www.thepolicycircle.org. Any woman who believes in the power of free markets to unleash human creativity can start a Policy Circle in her area.