Replies

Article I §8: "Congress shall have the power...To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United States"

I do not know if the Bill of Rights has ever been incorporated against Congress as it has against the several states.

"exclusive legislation" and "all cases whatsoever" had special meanings in 1788, they were drawn directly from what the Founders had called the "Intolerable Acts" passed to define the powers of the King in Parliament over the colonies.

Thomas Paine referred to this language in The American Crisis thusly: "Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER," and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God"

So - the Founders granted a power to Congress very broad in extent and so far undefined by the Supreme Court to "legislate" over DC which remains unchanged to this day.