Washington, DC Statehood Constitutional Convention records

On November 4, 1980, sixty percent of the District of Columbia (DC) residents voted and approved the District of Columbia Statehood Constitutional Convention of of 1979, which became DC Law 3-171. This law called for the creation of a state constitutional convention, which was an initiative towards statehood. During 1981, a DC Statehood Commission was established. On November 4, 1981, forty-five delegates were elected to a Constitutional Convention to serve two or three year terms.

The elected delegates for the District of Columbia Constitutional Convention convened to write a constitution for the future state of New Columbia on January 31, 1982. On May 27, 1982 New Columbia is officially chosen as the name for the new state and the new constitution is adopted on May 29, 1982 ending the convention. On November 2, 1982, DC voters ratified the constitution for the State of New Columbia.

In 1983, a bill was introduced in Congress for the admission of the State of New Columbia into the United States, but it did not pass. This means that Congress continues its exclusive legislative power over the District.