re: Is Washington DC a part of the United States?

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It's actually not

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But it actually is.

It was created as a separate district to prevent a single states claim on the national capitol.

It is its own district, providing 3 electoral votes. They have a shadow representative in the House. (a voice but not a vote).

Just because you aren't a state doesn't mean you are not a part of the US. All of these places are a part of the United States and its citizens are Americans:

Puerto Rico, Guam, Northern Marina Islands, US Virgin Islands, and American Samoa (although American Samoa is a particular case, but still american).

These territories provide AMERICANS for the US Military, and host some of the most successful recruiting stations in the country.

The voting status is very messed up for these US territories, but that is for another debate.