Students should work to integrate themselves fully into their off-campus community. As a citizen of the District of Columbia it is both your right and responsibility to take part in governing your community. The laws and regulations adopted by the District as well as the national government directly affect you and your lifestyle. Students are encouraged to take part in various government elections.

Voter Registration
To represent your views and have a voice in your community you have to vote and, therefore register. To register to vote in the District of Columbia, individuals must meet the following criteria:

• United States Citizen
• DC resident
• At least 18 years old by election day
• Not claim the right to vote anywhere outside DC

If you meet all of these requirements, you may register to vote by submitting the Mail In Voter Registration Form located in the appendix of this guide at least 30 days before an election. Voter Registration materials for residents of Virginia and Maryland are also located in the Resouces section of this website or click here.

City Council
The Council of the District of Columbia is the legislative branch of the District government. All legislative powers are vested in the Council. The Council is composed of 13 Members--a representative elected from each of the city's eight wards and five members, including the Chairman, elected at-large. As the local elected representative body, the Council seeks citizen participation throughout the legislative process. It holds public hearings to provide an opportunity for public comment on proposed legislation, policy initiatives and government operations.

The neighborhoods of Foggy Bottom/West End, Dupont Circle and Georgetown are all a part of Ward 2, represented by Councilmember Jack Evans.

For more information about the DC City Council or contact information for any Councilmember, please visit their website at: http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/.

US Congressional Representative, Delegate
Residents of the District of Columbia do not have full voting representation in the U.S. Congress. D.C does have a non-voting delegate to the US House of Representatives, Eleanor Holmes Norton. For more information or to contact Rep. Norton, please visit her website at: http://www.norton.house.gov/.

Questions about DC City Government
The District of Columbia maintains an excellent website with over 100,000 pages of information about living and working in the city. You are encouraged to visit http://www.dc.gov/to learn more about the city government and services.

For information about specific services in your neighborhood, including closest Metro, police station, fire station, recreational facility and post office as well as which Ward, Advisory Neighborhood Commission and voting precinct you are in, visit the website http://citizenatlas.dc.gov/atlasapps/reporthometab.aspx

Community Service
The District of Columbia and the Foggy Bottom neighborhood are rich with opportunities for students to take part in community service and numerous other community development activities. Events such as "Make a Difference Day" or "Senior Prom" are great ways to not only positively impact the community in which you live, but also provide the opportunity to meet some of your neighbors in the area.

Volunteer opportunities are available through GW's Office of Community Service located in the Marvin Center, Suite 436. You can also call the office at 202.994.5493 or visit their website at http://gwired.gwu.edu/sac/OCS.

Greater DC Cares is the District's volunteer center and the largest coordinator of volunteer services in the greater Washington region. You can visit their website at http://www.dc-cares.org/or call 1-800-VOLUNTEER to learn about volunteer opportunities in the District.