51 states may appear in the United States: a bill was submitted to Congress

The Metropolitan District of Columbia, home to the United States capital Washington, could become the 51st states. A group of Democrats in the US House of Representatives and the Senate have introduced the relevant bill.

Reported by The Hill.

The bill, which was first introduced in 2013, will give county citizens full authority over local affairs as well as full representation in the US Congress.

Democrats believe that after the recent general election in the United States, the chances of giving the district state status "have never been as good as it is now."

The bill was first passed by the House of Representatives in 2020, with a record 202 co-sponsors.

The bill could pass in the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives, but its chances of approval in the Senate are slim.

The District of Columbia includes the US capital Washington, the city of Georgetown and the County of Washington.

Note that the United States is divided into 50 states (and those into counties or their equivalents) and the District of Columbia. There are also a number of island territories under the control of the United States: Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam and others.