Plural of capitol; buildings where state or national legislatures meet and conduct government business.
From Latin 'capitolium,' named after the Capitoline Hill in Rome where the temple of Jupiter stood. The word evolved to mean the building housing a legislature, with the spelling 'capitol' distinguishing it from 'capital' (the city).
The U.S. has 50 state capitols but only one national Capitol building in Washington D.C.—and it took 8 years to build! The word's connection to Jupiter's temple shows how ancient Rome's religious power was tied to its government power.
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