The Capitol can be the seat of the Legislative Branch or the Executive Branch.
A capitol is a construction where the Legislative Branch of a State functions. The term is used in some cases with reference to the Executive Branch building.
Before moving forward with the meaning of the term, it is essential to discover its etymological origin. In this case, we can determine that it comes from the Latin Capitolium , in turn derived from the noun caput (which is equivalent to “head”).
Examples of capitol
The United States Capitol , for example, is located in Washington DC and allows the operation of the two chambers that make up the national congress. The original design of the building was carried out by William Thornton , although other architects later directed various modifications.
The United States Capitol complex occupies more than 110 hectares and includes multiple offices with offices, a library and the headquarters of the Supreme Court.
The National Capitol of Havana , for its part, is a place that was born to house the two chambers of the Cuban Congress although, since the socialist revolution , it has been the headquarters of the Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment . The construction of the building ended in 1929 and Eugenio Raynieri Piedra was responsible.
The Toulouse Capitol is an example of a capitol linked to the Executive Branch . This building, unlike those associated with legislative bodies, is the headquarters of the local town hall.
This Capitol of Toulouse began to be built in 1190 . It has significant spaces such as the Hall of the Illustrious , the courtyard of Enrique IV and its Torre Mayor .
The Capitol of Havana is a symbol of Cuba.
Other important buildings
To all of those already mentioned we can also add the Texas Capitol , which is currently the seat of the government of that place. This building located in Downtown was built in 1888 , which is identified by having a marked Renaissance style. It has been restored on several occasions and both its domes and mosaics stand out.
In this list of capitols we cannot overlook that of Colombia , which is the headquarters of the National Congress . It is located in the Plaza de Bolívar , it has become one of the most important buildings in Bogotá and has its origins in the 19th century . It was built exactly between 1848 and 1926 , it is declared a National Monument and is made of quarry stone.
It has three floors and has significant rooms such as the Elliptical Hall , where plenary sessions take place; the Bocayá Room , dedicated to the presidency of the chamber and the Senate Room .
Other well-known capitols are the Arizona State Capitol , the Michigan State Capitol , and the Colorado State Capitol .
Capitol as acropolis
It is important to mention that, according to the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ) in its dictionary, the idea of capitol can also have another meaning.
The notion of capitol, in this framework, can refer to an acropolis : the high and fortified sector that, in ancient cities, concentrated public buildings and temples.