Buildings, flags, seals, monuments, rituals, and public spaces make abstract authority visible—but their meanings have never been fixed.
The U.S. Capitol
Home to the House and Senate, the Capitol has been built, burned, rebuilt, and expanded. Its dome and west front have become shorthand for Congress, even though most legislative work happens in committees and offices beyond the chambers.
The White House
The president’s residence and workplace combines domestic, ceremonial, diplomatic, and administrative functions. The Executive Office of the President extends across a larger complex and numerous offices.
The Supreme Court Building
The Court met in the Capitol until its own building opened in 1935. Its classical design projects permanence and legal authority, while the Court itself changes through appointments, doctrine, and the cases brought before it.
Flag, seal, and anthem
The flag’s 13 stripes represent the original states and 50 stars the current union. The Great Seal supplies the eagle, shield, olive branch, arrows, and motto familiar from official documents and currency. Civic symbols can unify, protest, mourn, and claim belonging.