The District is created a government by the name of the "District of Columbia," by which name it is constituted a body corporate for municipal purposes, and may contract and be contracted with, sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, have a seal, and exercise all other powers of a municipal corporation not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the United States and the provisions of this Code.
D.C. Code § 1-102
Organic Act of 1878: See Acts Relating to the Establishment of the District of Columbia and its Various Forms of Governmental Organization in Volume 1.
"District" defined, see §§ 1-603.01 and 3-3601. Mayor, powers and duties, see § 1-204.22. .