ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL
Established as a permanent office in 1876 (40 U.S.C.A. §§ 162, 163), the architect of the capitol oversees the mechanical and structural maintenance of the Capitol, the conservation and care of works of art in the building, the upkeep
and improvement of the Capitol grounds, and
the arrangement of inaugural and other cere-
monies held in the building or on the grounds.
In addition, the architect is responsible for the
upkeep of all the congressional office buildings,
the LIBRARY OF CONGRESS buildings, the U.S.
Supreme Court building, the Federal Judiciary
Building, the Capitol Power Plant, the Capitol
Police headquarters, and the Robert A. Taft
Memorial. The architect also serves as the acting
director of the U.S. Botanic Garden.
The functions of the architect have become
increasingly administrative, and the architec-
tural or engineering dimensions less important.
Special projects carried out by the architect
include building renovation and restoration,
including installation of broadcasting and secu-
rity equipment in the Capitol.
Before 1989, the position of architect of the
capitol was filled for an indefinite term by pres-
idential appointment. Legislation enacted in
1989 (Pub. L. No. 101-163, 103 Stat. 1068 [codi-
fied at 40 U.S.C.A. § 162–1]) provided that the
architect be appointed for a ten-year term by the
president, with the advice and consent of the
Senate, from a list of three candidates recom-
mended by a congressional commission. Upon
confirmation by the Senate, the architect
becomes an official of the legislative branch as
an officer and agent of Congress and is eligible
