District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2009
Held at the desk.
Congressional Research Service
Official summary
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jan 6, 2009
District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2009 - Considers the District of Columbia a congressional district for purposes of representation in the House of Representatives.
Declares that the District shall not be considered a state for purposes of representation in the Senate.
Applies to the District in the same manner as it applies to a state the federal law providing for the 15th and subsequent decennial censuses and for apportionment of Representatives in Congress. Limits the District to one Member under any reapportionment of Members.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Read full official summaryShow less
Modifies the formula regarding the number of presidential electors to subject it to the 23rd amendment to the Constitution in the case of the District.
Increases membership of the House from 435 to 437 Members.
Provides for a reapportionment of Members resulting from such increase.
Requires: (1) the President to submit to Congress a revised version of the most recent statement of such apportionment identifying Utah as the state entitled to one additional Representative; and (2) the Clerk of the House, upon receipt of such revision, to identify such state to the Speaker of the House.
Repeals provisions of: (1) the District of Columbia Delegate Act establishing the office of District of Columbia Delegate to the House of Representatives; and (2) the District of Columbia Statehood Constitution Convention Initiative of 1979 providing for election of a Representative for the District.
Makes conforming amendments to the District of Columbia Elections Code of 1955.
Sets forth procedures for expedited judicial review of any action brought to challenge the constitutionality of any provision of this Act or any amendment made by it.
Cloture motion on the measure withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate. (consideration: CR S2525)
The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2538)
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S2507-2542)
Cloture motion on the measure presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S2461; text: CR S2461)
By a decision of the Senate the point of order that the measure violates the Constitution was not well taken by Yea-Nay Vote. 36 - 62. Record Vote Number: 67.
Point of order that the measure violates the Constitution raised in Senate.
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S2434-2461)
Measure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S2398-2399; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S2398-2399)
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2398)
Cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 62 - 34. Record Vote Number: 65. (consideration: CR S2397-2398; text: CR S2397)
Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S2390-2398)
Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S2353-2360)
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure withdrawn in Senate by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2347)
Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the bill presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S2347; text: CR S2347)
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S2347)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 23.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S142-143)
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S141-142)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
Bill text & related measures
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Explore the bill from different angles
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Neutral evidence review
Objective
Analyze S.160 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact
Progressive lens
Examine S.160 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope
Conservative lens
Examine S.160 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power
Liberty lens
Examine S.160 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.