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The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is the federal agency responsible for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the United States Capitol Complex. It is an agency of the legislative branch of the federal government and is accountable to the
United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washi ...
and the
Supreme Court A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts in most legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, apex court, and high (or final) court of appeal. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
. The head of the agency is also called "Architect of the Capitol". President Trump nominated Brett Blanton as Architect of the Capitol on December 9, 2019. On December 19, 2019, the
United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and ...
confirmed his nomination by
voice vote In parliamentary procedure, a voice vote (from the Latin ''viva voce'', meaning "live voice") or acclamation is a voting method in deliberative assemblies (such as legislatures) in which a group vote is taken on a topic or motion by responding v ...
. He was sworn in on January 16, 2020. Blanton replaced acting Architect of the Capitol Thomas J. Carroll, who replaced former acting Architect of the Capitol Christine A. Merdon. Prior to that,
Stephen T. Ayers Stephen T. Ayers (born 1962), FAIA, LEED AP, is an American architect who served as the 11th Architect of the Capitol, from 2010 to 2018. Ayers has been a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration since 2020. Biography Ayers serv ...
served as acting Architect of the Capitol from February 2007, and was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on May 12, 2010, becoming the 11th Architect of the Capitol. He retired on November 23, 2018. On November 1, 2022
Politico ''Politico'' (stylized in all caps), known originally as ''The Politico'', is an American, German-owned political journalism newspaper company based in Arlington County, Virginia, that covers politics and policy in the United States and intern ...
reported that the OIG had investigated and concluded that Blanton and his family had misused government resources.The OIG report confirms this report.J. Brett Blanton, Architect of the Capitol, Abused His Authority, Misused Government Property and Wasted Taxpayer Money, Among Other Substantiated Violations
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Overview

The head of the agency sits on the Capitol Police Board, which has jurisdiction over the United States Capitol Police, and on the United States Capitol Guide Board, which has jurisdiction over the United States Capitol Guide Service. Until 1989, the architect of the Capitol was appointed by the
president of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal gove ...
for an indefinite term. Legislation in 1989 provides that the president appoints the architect for a term of ten years, with the
advice and consent Advice and consent is an English phrase frequently used in enacting formulae of bills and in other legal or constitutional contexts. It describes either of two situations: where a weak executive branch of a government enacts something previ ...
of the Senate, from a list of three candidates recommended by a congressional commission. On confirmation by the Senate, the architect becomes an official of the legislative branch as an officer and agent of Congress. The architect is eligible for reappointment after completion of the term.


Responsibility

The Architect of the Capitol is responsible to Congress and the Supreme Court for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of 17.4 million square feet of buildings and more than of land throughout Capitol Hill. The office is also responsible for the upkeep and improvement of the Capitol Grounds, and the arrangement of inaugural ceremonies and other ceremonies held in the building or on the grounds. Legislation over the years has placed additional buildings and grounds under the Architect of the Capitol. The Capitol Complex includes: * the Capitol *
Capitol Visitor Center The United States Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) is a large underground addition to the United States Capitol complex which serves as a gathering point for up to 4,000 tourists and an expansion space for the US Congress.congressional office buildings **
Cannon A cannon is a large-caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder duri ...
** Ford ** Longworth ** Rayburn **
Russell Russell may refer to: People * Russell (given name) * Russell (surname) * Lady Russell (disambiguation) * Lord Russell (disambiguation) Places Australia *Russell, Australian Capital Territory *Russell Island, Queensland (disambiguation) **Ru ...
**
Dirksen Dirksen is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Corra Dirksen (1938–2020), South African rugby union player *Dirk Dirksen (19372006), American music promoter and emcee * Emily Dirksen (born 1969), American rower * Everett Dirksen ...
** Hart *
Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The librar ...
buildings *
United States Supreme Court Building The Supreme Court Building houses the Supreme Court of the United States. Also referred to as "The Marble Palace," the building serves as the official workplace of the chief justice of the United States and the eight associate justices of th ...
* United States Botanic Garden *
Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building The Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building (TMFJB) houses offices that support the work of the United States Courts, including the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, the Federal Judicial Center, the United States Sentenci ...
* Capitol Power Plant *
Daniel Webster Senate Page Residence The Daniel Webster Senate Page Residence, also known as Webster Hall, is the residence for United States Senate Pages. The building is a former funeral home and underwent an $8 million refurbishment in 1995, converting it to its current state ...
* United States Capitol Police headquarters and K9 division facilities * other facilities


Architects of the Capitol


See also

* Office of the Supervising Architect for the U.S. Treasury * Architecture of Washington, D.C.


References


External links

*
Official blog

''The Architect's Virtual Capitol''
*
''Architect of the Capitol: Evolution and Implementation of the Appointment Procedure''
from the
Congressional Research Service The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is a public policy research institute of the United States Congress. Operating within the Library of Congress, it works primarily and directly for members of Congress and their committees and staff on ...
{{Authority control * 1793 establishments in the United States Agencies of the United States Congress