Capital and Capitol are two words that are often confused with each other. However, there is a big difference between the two. Capital refers to financial investments, such as stocks or businesses. Capitol, on the other hand, is used when referring to physical buildings, such as state capitols. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the definitions of these two words and discuss some examples of each.
What is Capital?
The capital city is the center of the political life of a country. Capital cities are often the largest city in their respective countries and may have a special status in terms of administration and taxation. Capital cities typically have symbolically important architecture, such as a grandiose national palace or cathedral. As of 2018, there are 196 total sovereign states and dependent territories that have officially recognized capital cities. Of these, 54 have designated their capital city while the remaining 142 have identified their seat of government.
This can be contrasted with overall population figures, which show that there are currently over 7.6 billion people living on Earth. Out of all these people, only a small fraction live in capital cities. For example, Capital City, Washington D.C., is home to just over 700,000 people, which is less than 0.01% of the world’s population. Despite their small size, capital cities play an important role in the life of a country and its citizens.
What is Capitol?
Capitol city is the capital of a political subdivision, such as a state, province, or country. A Capitol building houses the meeting place for the Capitol’s governing body, typically a legislature or parliament. The word Capitol comes from the Latin word Capitolium, which represents the Capitoline Hill in Rome. The Capitoline Hill was home to the temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, and it was here that Romans would gather to consult with their gods.
Over time, the word Capitolium came to refer more generally to a place of assembly, and it eventually made its way into English. Today, Capitol buildings can be found in cities all over the world, each representing the seat of government for its respective jurisdiction.
Difference between Capital and Capitol
There is often confusion between the terms Capital and Capitol. Both words refer to a city that serves as the primary seat of government for a country or region. However, Capital usually refers to the city where the executive branch of government is located, while Capitol usually refers to the city where the legislative branch of government is located. In the United States, for example, Washington D.C. serves as the Capital, as it is home to the White House and other executive branch offices, while the Capitol building in D.C.
houses Congress and other legislative offices. Similarly, in Canada, Ottawa serves as the Capital, while the Parliament buildings are located in nearby Quebec City, which is considered the Capital’s Capitol. It is important to note that some countries only have one Capital city that serves both functions, such as London in the United Kingdom. Ultimately, Capital refers to the city where a country’s executive branch is located, while Capitol refers to the city where a country’s legislative branch is located.
Conclusion
The difference between the capital and Capitol is an important distinction to make, especially when discussing the United States government. Hopefully, this post has helped clear up any confusion about these two words.
