The U.S. Capitol — spelling ends with -ol — is the building in Washington, D.C., where Congress meets and does its business. The capital, ending with -al, is the city of Washington, D.C. itself.I do not remember anybody mentioning that the Capitol building is the seat of government of the United States, i.e., the highest authority in the land. The seat of government is not the White House.
The Founding Fathers presumably thought the same — they put Congress first in the Constitution. They devoted Article I — six pages — to Congress; the executive branch — the presidency and its departments — are in Article II, two-and-a-quarter pages.
Some people, including the current president, think the executive branch is — or should be — the highest authority in the land. Not so.
— Vivian Mendenhall
Anchorage
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