Following Swearing-In of Councilmembers, Council Period 22 is Underway

January 2 is a date enshrined in the District Charter: it is the date when the officials elected the prior November are sworn into office. It is not “observed” on the next convenient day—January 2 is January 2, and at noon on that day, the transition of power occurs.

This is why, on a Federal and District holiday, the District’s elected officials, the press that cover them, and the citizens who support them came together at the Convention Center to witness the swearing in of Councilmembers David Grosso (At-Large), Robert White (At-Large), Jack Evans (Ward 2), Brandon Todd (Ward 4), Vincent Gray (Ward 7), and Trayon White (Ward 8).

Following that ceremonial event, the members of the Council travelled blocks away to the Wilson Building, convening for the organizational meeting of Council Period 22. This two-year session will last from January 2, 2017 until that same date in 2019. At the meeting, the Council Period’s rules were approved. While this document does, predictably, include the rules for the session, it also includes the Council’s committee structure and the list of agencies to be overseen by each committee.

The rules document for Council Period 22 (absent some technical amendments approved from the dais) is available here. The list of committees for Council Period 22, including their membership, is available here.

The first Legislative Meeting of Council Period 22 will be held at 10AM on Tuesday, January 10.