Urges Congress to repeal the Residence Act of 1790 and designate Missouri as the nation's capitol
Summary
House Concurrent Resolution 18 is a nonbinding memorial urging Congress to repeal the Residence Act of 1790, which established Washington, D.C. as the nation’s capital, and to designate Missouri as the next national capital. The resolution’s stated rationale is that the capital should be centrally located and accessible to all citizens, and it cites the 2020 census population center of the United States being located in Missouri.
The measure does not itself change Missouri law or federal law. Instead, it expresses the General Assembly’s position and directs the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House to send copies of the resolution to the Speaker of the U.S. House, the Senate Majority Leader, and Missouri’s congressional delegation. Its practical effect is limited to a formal request to Congress and a symbolic endorsement of Missouri as a potential national capital.
Impact
HCR18 would have no direct legal effect on state statutes, local government authority, or federal law because it is a concurrent resolution rather than a bill. Its impact is primarily symbolic and political: it places the Missouri legislature on record supporting repeal of the Residence Act of 1790 and advocating for a change in the location of the national capital. The resolution also creates a formal communication to federal leaders and Missouri’s congressional delegation, but it does not alter any existing statutory provisions in Missouri or the United States.
Sentiment
The available context suggests the resolution is presented in a serious but largely symbolic spirit, with support implied by its introduction and lack of recorded opposition in the provided materials. The bill’s framing emphasizes geographic centrality and accessibility, and it appeals to Missouri’s status as the population center of the lower 48 states. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes included, there is no documented debate in the provided record showing broader support or opposition.
Contention
The main point of contention is the resolution’s premise that Missouri should become the nation’s capital, which would require Congress to repeal long-standing federal law and relocate the capital from Washington, D.C. Critics would likely view the proposal as impractical, symbolic, or politically unrealistic, while supporters would emphasize geographic centrality and the population-center argument. Another likely issue is that the resolution asks Congress to act on a matter of federal constitutional and statutory significance, beyond the authority of the Missouri legislature itself.