A capitol is the building where lawmakers meet to make the laws that govern a state or country. The United States Capitol, with its famous white dome, sits in Washington, D.C., where Congress gathers to debate and vote on laws. Every state has its own capitol building too, usually located in the state capital city.

Notice the spelling carefully: capitol (with an “o”) refers to the building itself, while capital (with an “a”) means the city where the government is located. So you'd say “The Texas state capitol is located in Austin, the capital of Texas.”

When you see a capitol building, you're looking at where democracy happens in action: where representatives argue, compromise, and vote on everything from school funding to highway construction. The building itself often features a distinctive dome, symbolizing the idea that government should be open and visible to the citizens it serves.