The Commission has been given, through bi-county enactments of
the Maryland General Assembly, definite jurisdiction over the plan-
ning of the Maryland-Washington Regional District,, which includes
all of the suburban Prince George's and Montgomery Counties and a
considerable portion of agricultural Montgomery County..

The Commission is composed of six members appointed by the
Governor. Two members must be residents and taxpayers of that
portion of the Maryland-Washington Metropolitan District within
Montgomery County; one may be a resident of any part of Montgom-
ery County; two must be residents and taxpayers of that portion of
the District within Prince George's County; and one may be a resi-
dent of any part of Prince George's County. Members have six-year
overlapping terms, the terms of two of the first appointees from each
county having been for four years. The Commission appoints a
Secretary-Treasurer and a General Counsel. Regional Offices are
maintained in both counties..

Within the Maryland-Washington Metropolitan District, the Com-
mission is empowered to acquire, develop, maintain, and operate a
park system with recreational facilities, the expense of which is paid
from a separate park tax levied within the District. A recreational
program has been authorized in the parks and other public places,
revenue for which may be obtained from a special recreation tax or
county grants. The Commission is authorized to cooperate and nego-
tiate with Federal agencies for financial assistance under the terms
of the Capper-Cramton Act, and with other agencies in the park
development program..

Within the Maryland-Washington Regional District, which includes
and extends beyond the Metropolitan District, the Commission is em-
powered to make, adopt, and amend a general plan for the physical
development of the District, including all factors of urban, suburban,
rural, and regional planning. Plans and specifications for the con-
struction of public works improvements and facilities are authorized
to be prepared by the Commission. It is given specific sub-division
control power, and jurisdiction over building inspection and permits,
over street grades and locations, public buildings and utilities after
the adoption of a major road plan, over street naming and house re-
numbering, and the Commission has advisory zoning powers. The
zoning ordinances and amendments, however, are enacted by the re-
spective Boards of County Commissioners sitting as a District Council
for that. portion of the District within each County. The Commission
recommends land use or zoning ordinance building regulations and
similar ordinance subject matters to the respective District Councils.
The Building Inspector's departments of both counties function under
the jurisdiction of this Commission. The administrative expenses of
the Commission are paid from an administrative tax levied within
the District. The taxes levied by the Commission which are collected
by the County Treasurer in each of the two Counties are as follows:.

Montgomery County:.

Regional District:
Administrative Tax: 3cents/$100.

Metropolitan District:
Administrative tax: 3cents/$100
Park Tax: 7cents/$100
Recreation Tax: 5cents/$100.

Total: 15cents/$100.