WASHINGTON — D.C.'s law that lets it govern itself has been in the news a lot this week, with President Donald Trump federalizing the Metropolitan Police Department on Monday by invoking section 740 of the Home Rule Act .

And as conversations about the Trump administration taking over D.C. continue, many may be wondering, what exactly is the Home Rule Act?

In short, it's what allows D.C. to have self-governance, though there are still some limitations. Let's break it down:

Since the 1970s, D.C. has had its own government elected by residents. This was established with Congress passing the Home Rule Act of 1973. It went into effect in 1975 after being signed into law by President Richard Nixon.

The Home Rule Act formed the roles of the city council and the mayor, and allowed D.C. to

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