Architect of the Capitol
Agency overview | |
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Formed | 1793 |
Jurisdiction | United States Capitol Complex |
Headquarters | |
Agency executive |
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Website | www |
The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is the federal agency responsible for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the United States Capitol Complex, and also the head of that agency. The Architect of the Capitol is in the legislative branch[1] and is accountable to the United States Congress and the Supreme Court.[2]
President Trump nominated Brett Blanton as architect of the Capitol on December 9, 2019. On December 19, 2019, the United States Senate confirmed his nomination by voice vote.[3] He was sworn in on January 16, 2020.[4] 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 served as acting architect of the Capitol since February 2007, and was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on May 12, 2010, becoming the 11th architect of the Capitol.[5] He retired on November 23, 2018.[6]
Overview
The architect of the Capitol 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 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 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.[citation needed] The architect is eligible for reappointment after completion of the term.
Responsibility
The architect of the Capitol is responsible to the United States Congress and the Supreme Court for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of 17.4 million square feet of buildings and more than 553 acres (224 ha) of land throughout Capitol Hill.[2] The architect's 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 following facilities:[2]
- the Capitol
- the Capitol Visitor Center
- the seven congressional office buildings
- the Library of Congress buildings
- the United States Supreme Court Building
- the United States Botanic Garden
- the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building
- the Capitol Power Plant
- the Senate page dormitory
- the United States Capitol Police headquarters and K9 division facilities
- other facilities
Architects of the Capitol
Architect of the Capitol | Term of Office | Deputy Architect | Assistant Architect | Appointed by | Notes |
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William Thornton | 1793–1802 | —
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Washington | Honored as the "first architect" for his design of the U.S. Capitol. |
Benjamin Henry Latrobe | March 6, 1803 – July 1, 1811 |
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—
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Jefferson | Latrobe was appointed twice. President Jefferson appointed him to take over work on the building in 1803, and construction halted in 1811. During the War of 1812, British troops burned the Capitol, prompting President Madison to reappoint Latrobe as Architect of the Capitol to conduct repairs. |
April 6, 1815 – November 20, 1817 |
Madison | ||||
Charles Bulfinch | January 8, 1818 – June 25, 1829 |
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—
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Monroe | |
Thomas U. Walter (Engineer-in-charge: Montgomery C. Meigs) |
June 11, 1851 – May 26, 1865 |
—
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Edward Clark | Fillmore | Walter and Meigs shared responsibility for the Capitol and the construction of its additions. |
Edward Clark | August 30, 1865 – January 6, 1902 |
—
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Elliott Woods (1901–1902) |
A. Johnson | |
Elliott Woods | February 19, 1902 – May 22, 1923 |
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—
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T. Roosevelt | |
David Lynn | August 22, 1923 – September 30, 1954 |
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Horace Rouzer (1930–1946) Arthur Cook (1946–1959) |
Coolidge | |
J. George Stewart | October 1, 1954 – May 24, 1970 |
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Arthur Cook (1946–1959) Mario Campioli (1959–1980) |
Eisenhower | |
George M. White | January 27, 1971 – November 21, 1995 |
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Mario Campioli (1959–1980) William L. Ensign (1980–1997) |
Nixon | Ensign acted as Architect after White's retirement until a replacement was appointed |
Alan M. Hantman | January 6, 1997 – February 2, 2007 |
Stephen T. Ayers (Deputy: October 2005 – February 2007) (Acting Architect: February 2, 2007 – May 11, 2010) |
Michael G. Turnbull (June 1998 – present) |
Clinton | The first Architect of the Capitol appointed under the legislation passed in 1989 providing for a fixed, renewable ten-year term for the Architects of the Capitol. On August 1, 2006, Hantman announced he would not seek a second term when his term expired in 2007. |
Stephen T. Ayers | May 12, 2010 – November 23, 2018 | Christine A. Merdon (Deputy: 2011 – November 23, 2018) (Acting Architect: November 24, 2018 – 2020) |
Obama | Ayers was appointed acting Architect of the Capitol from February 2007 – May 2010, and unanimously confirmed as Architect of the Capitol May 12, 2010. | |
Brett Blanton | January 16, 2020 | Trump |
See also
References
- ^ "Overview of Doing Business with AOC". Retrieved April 4, 2014.
- ^ a b c "Responsibilities of the Architect | Architect of the Capitol". Aoc.gov. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
- ^ "PN1324 - Nomination of J. Brett Blanton for Congress of the United States, 116th Congress (2019-2020)". www.congress.gov. December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
- ^ "12th Architect of the Capitol Sworn In". AOC.gov. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
- ^ "Stephen T. Ayers Confirmed by United States Senate to Serve as 11th Architect of the Capitol". Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
- ^ "Stephen T. Ayers". AOC.gov. Retrieved February 8, 2019.