SPHERE OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 43 



Conservation of Wild Life in the District of Columbia: 

 For the greater part of its history the government of the 

 District of Columbia has been that of an unorganized terri- 

 tory or dependency, but for a brief period, 1871-74, it was 

 that of an organized territory. The power of Congress is 

 essentially the same as regards the District of Columbia and 

 territory acquired by treaty, but the source of this power is 

 found in a separate section of the constitution. By clause 17 

 of section 8, Article I, Congress is given specific plenary 

 authority " to exercise exclusive legislation in all cases what- 

 soever over such District ... as may . . . become the seat 

 of government." 



Under this plenary power granted to it, Congress may set 

 up such form of government for the District as it sees fit. 

 It may establish a municipal government elected by popular 

 vote, as was done from 1801 to 1871 ; it may create a terri- 

 torial government, such as existed from 1871 to 1874; or it 

 may place some local powers of government in a municipal 

 corporation whose officers are appointed by the President 

 and some of the powers in the hands of federal agencies as 

 at present. 38 



The municipal government is headed by three commis- 

 sioners appointed by the President with the consent of the 

 Senate, 39 whose powers are similar to those customarily 

 exercised by the commissioners under the commission form 

 of municipal government. Congress, however, retains the 

 powers commonly held by the state legislature including the 

 power to make laws regarding wild life. 



On July 14, 1932 Congress passed an act 40 prohibiting 

 the killing of wild animals in the District of Columbia. So 



88 For more detailed discussion of the government of the District, see 

 Schmeckebier, Laurence, The District of Columbia, Institute for Gov- 

 ernment Research publication (1928). 



39 20 Stat. L. 102. 



* 47 Stat. L. 660 amending and amplifying 34 Stat. L. 808. 



