WASHINGTON - THE US Senate on Thursday, overturning two centuries of history, agreed to give residents of the nation's capital Washington a voting representative in Congress's lower chamber.

In a vote of 61 to 37, the Senate approved a measure that would eliminate what has long been a thorn in the side of some 600,000 Washington residents who have no congressional representative authorized to cast a vote for legislation.

A similar measure passed earlier this week in the House, but the two versions may have to be reconciled before the change can take place.

The vote Thursday was greeted with jubilation by some lawmakers who said it rights an egregious and longstanding injustice.

'Madam president, what I really want to say is, Alleluiah!' said Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, a longtime advocate of voting rights for Washington.

Describing the lack of a congressional vote for federal district - a decision dating back to the time of America's creation - he said: 'an omission was made that was grave and inconsistent with the founding principles of this country.'

Denying Washington residents a congressional vote, Mr Lieberman said 'is patently unjust and un-American in the sense of a violation of the best principles of this country - of freedom, of democracy, of the republic based on the votes of the people.'

Car-driving residents of Washington, who are are among the most highly taxed citizens of the United States, have decried their situation with licence plates that read: 'Taxation without representation.' -- AFP