United States Capitol

The United States Capitol, often called the Capitol or the Capitol Building, is the seat of the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. It is located on Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Although no longer at the geographic center of the national capital, the U.S. Capitol forms the origin point for the street-numbering system of the district as well as its four quadrants.

Central sections of the present building were completed in 1800. These were partly destroyed in the 1814 Burning of Washington, then were fully restored within five years. The building was enlarged in the 1850s by extending the wings for the chambers for the bicameral legislature, the House of Representatives in the south wing and the Senate in the north wing. The massive dome was completed around 1866 just after the American Civil War. Like the principal buildings of the executive and judicial branches, the Capitol is built in a neoclassical style and has a white exterior. Both its east and west elevations are formally referred to as fronts, although only the east front was intended for the reception of visitors and dignitaries.

House of Representatives Chamber

The House Chamber is the primary meeting place of the United States House of Representatives (the lower house of the United States Congress). The 435 members of the House sit in unassigned armchairs arranged in a semicircle on tiered platforms that face the House Speaker's rostrum where the presiding officer sits. Behind the rostrum is a frontispiece with Ionic columns made of black Italian marble with white Alabama marble capitals. An American flag occupies the center and is flanked by two bronze fasces. The chamber's lower walls are walnut paneled with intervening light grey Genevieve Sheldorado marble pilasters. A gallery for visitors and the press corps rings the chamber on the upper level.

Senate Chamber

The Senate Chamber is the primary meeting place of the United States Senate (the upper house of the United States Congress). The 100 members that make up this body sit at assigned individual desks arranged on a tiered semicircular platform facing a raised rostrum occupied by the presiding officer, typically the Vice President or the President Pro temp. A visitor's gallery overlooks the chamber on four sides. The walls of the Senate Chamber are primarily composed of white, polished marble

Trivia

• While most of House of Cards is at locations in Maryland, much of the locations seen in the opening credits were filmed in Washington D.C. including b roll of the real Capitol Building.
• Much of Chapter 16 was filmed at the Maryland State Capitol. The floor of the Maryland House of Delegates underwent a few temporary renovations so it would appear more like the Chamber of the United States Senate.