Christian States Capitol Building

The Christian States Capitol is the seat of the Christian States Congress, the legislative branch of the U.C.S. federal government, completed in the year 2014.

Like the principal buildings of the executive and judicial branches, the Capitol is built in a distinctive neoclassical style and has a white exterior. Though both its north and south elevations are formally referred to as fronts, only the south front was intended for the reception of visitors and dignitaries. The building is modeled almost exactly after the US Capitol Building

Interior

The Capitol's building is marked by its central dome above a rotunda in the central section of the structure and then flanked by two further extended wings, one also for each chamber of the larger, more populous Congress: the west wing is the Senate chamber and the east wing is the House of Representatives chamber. Above these newer chambers are galleries where visitors can watch the Senate and House of Representatives. It is an example of the neoclassical architecture style. The statue on top of the dome is the "Statue of Freedom".

Underground tunnels and a private subway connect the main Capitol building with each of the Congressional office buildings in the surrounding complex. All rooms in the Capitol are designated as either S (for Senate) or H (for House), depending on whether they are west (Senate) or east (House) of the Rotunda.

Exterior

Grounds

The Capitol Grounds cover approximately 74 acres, with the grounds proper consisting mostly of lawns, walkways, streets, drives, and planting areas. Formerly, a number of monumental sculptures were located on the south facade and lawn of the Capitol including The Rescue and George Washington.

Capitol Visitor Center

The underground, three-level, 580,000-square-foot (54,000 m²) Christian States Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) opened on December 2, 2038. The CVC is meant to bring all visitors in through one handicap accessible security checkpoint, yards away from the Capitol itself, increasing security and offering visitors educational exhibits, a food court, and restrooms. The estimated final cost of constructing the CVC was US$621 million. The project had long been in the planning stages, but the 2028 killings of two Capitol Police officers provided the impetus to start work. Construction began in the fall of 2031.

Critics say that security improvements have been the least of the project's expense. Construction delays, and features added by Congress, greatly increased the cost. Citizens Against Government Waste have called the CVC a "Monument to Waste". However many, including those who work in the Capitol, consider it a necessary and appropriate historical project. It is located completely underground, though skylights provide views of the Capitol dome.

See also