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FAQ, Trivia and Information on Life in America: Ask-A-Desi

This section will attempt to address some of the Frequently Asked Questions on Life in the US, Canada and North America that immigrants, visitors and others from different cultures attempt to address. If you have any additional inputs or wish  to see more topics addressed, mail us at webmaster@GaramChai.com

The United States Capitol serves as the seat of government for the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government. It is located in Washington, D.C., on top of Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall. Although not in the geographic center of the District of Columbia, the Capitol is the focus by which the quadrants of the district are divided. Officially, the east and west sides of the Capitol are referred to as "fronts." Historically, however, the east front was initially the side of the building intended for the arrival of visitors and dignitaries.

Capitol and Capital

How does a Capitol differ from a Capital?

It is surprising how many people fail to distinguish between Capitol and Capital when used in relation to governments. According to American usage, a Capitol is a building in which the legislative branch of a government holds its sessions; a Capital is the seat of the entire government and hence the city where the Capitol or statehouse is located. Thus the United States Capitol, where Congress holds its sessions, is at Washington D.C, which city is the Capital of the United States. Likewise the New York Capitol, where the State Legislature holds its sessions, is at Albany, which city is the Capital of the State of New York.
US Capitol Capitol in Capital

Both words are derived indirectly from the Latin caput, meaning head. But capitol, like French capitole, is borrowed from the form Capitolium, which was the name of the national temple in Rome dedicated to Jupiter. It was called Capitolium because it was the head or top of Saturnian or Tarpeian Hill, which in later times became known as Capitoline Hill. The then governor Francis Nicholson of Virginia, who built a new statehouse at Williamsburg in 1698, was the first to apply "Capitol" to a government building in America. 
US Capitol In time the statehouse in most of the States came to be called the State Capitol, and it was natural that the Federal Government also has adopted the same name for the home of Congress which was built in the District of Columbia.

Capital, as applied to the chief commercial or political city of a nation or state was originally an adjective used and means capital city, that is, head city.

  

Capitol/Capital: A “capitol” is almost always a building. Cities which serve as seats of government are capitals spelled with an A in the last syllable, as are most other uses of the word as a common noun. The only exceptions are place names alluding to capitol buildings in some way or other, like “Capitol Hill” in DC, Denver, or Seattle (the latter either named after the hill in Denver or in hopes of attracting the Washington State capitol building). Would it help to remember that Congress with an O meets in the Capitol with another

From Architect of the Capitol: Visiting the Capitol
The Capitol is open to the public for guided tours only. Tours are conducted from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Saturday (the Capitol is not available for tours on Sundays), and is open on all federal holidays except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Visitors must obtain free tickets for tours at the Capitol Guide Service kiosk located along the curving sidewalk southwest of the Capitol. Ticket distribution begins at 9:00 a.m. daily, and the maximum tour size is 40 people. For accessibility information and tours for the disabled, please contact the Congressional Special Services Office: 202-224-4048 (voice) or 202-224-4049 (TDD).

United States Capitol - Wikipedia: The United States Capitol is the capitol building that serves as the seat of government for the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government. It is located in Washington, D.C., on top of Capitol Hill at the east end of the National Mall. Although not in the geographic center of the District of Columbia, the Capitol is the focus by which the quadrants of the district are divided. Curiously, the west face, which is often taken to be the "front" of the building, is actually its "back"; the true front is the east face.

The building was originally designed by William Thornton. This pzlan was subsequently modified by Stephen Hallet, Benjamin Latrobe and then Charles Bulfinch. The current dome and the House and Senate wings were designed by Thomas U. Walter and August Schoenborn, a German immigrant, and were completed under the supervision of Edward Clark.

The building is marked by its central dome above a rotunda and two wings, one for each chamber of Congress: the north wing is the Senate chamber and the south wing is the House of Representatives chamber. Above these chambers are galleries where visitors can watch the Senate and House of Representatives. It is an example of the Neoclassical architecture style.

U.S. Capitol Virtual Tour - A "Capitol" Experience: The Old Supreme Court Chamber, The Old Senate Chamber, The Senate Chamber [The Senate moved into its current chamber when the north wing of the Capitol was completed in 1859. Since the Civil War era, senators have deliberated, voted on legislation, and advised on and consented to treaties and nominations in this chamber. As president of the Senate, the vice president of the United States presides from the central dais. The tier below is assigned to the assistant secretary of the Senate, the journal clerk, parliamentarian, and legislative clerk. ]

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Trivia and Questions for Indians and Immigrants in America

General Trivia : Introduction //Dollars and Cents // Social Security Number // About Mail and USPS // Story of The Old Glory // Green Card– Why Not Green? // Telephone Area Codes // Convex Mirrors and Caution // Bankruptcy and Chapter 11 // Radio and TV Broadcasting // Consumerism: Trivia on Wal-Mart. // Retail Trivia // Gas Prices– What's 0.9 Cent? // Roads and Interstate Highways // Road Driving Trivia // Finance 101 // Daylight Saving Time // Trivia on Etiquette

FAQ Disclaimer: All information provided in these FAQ’s is deemed to be accurate by the author.  Due care has been exercised to ensure the veracity of this information and guidelines. However, there may be error (s) and omission (s) and all information is subject to change. GaramChai.com, and its affiliates do not assume any liability for the information provided herein. The reader is strongly recommended to confirm this information from official sources.
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