Omar Bennett
The capital city of a country is usually the seat of the government and often the location of the country's legislature. In the context of the United States Constitution, the term capital refers to the Federal City, which is not controlled by a state government. The Framers of the Constitution wanted to ensure that no state had an advantage over the others, and thus left the site of the capital city unspecified, allowing President George Washington to select the location along the Potomac River. While some countries' constitutions, such as Portugal and France, do not specify a capital city, others, like Germany, recognize an official capital as the home of their parliament and executive branch. In certain cases, a distinction is made between the constitutional capital and the seat of government, and multiple capitals may exist for different branches of government.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A capital city, or just capital, is the municipality holding primary status in a country, state, province, department, or other subnational division, usually as its seat of government. |
| Designation | Capitals are typically designated by law or constitution. However, some long-time capitals, such as Bern, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London, Paris, and Wellington, have no such legal designation and are recognized as a matter of convention. |
| Location | Capitals are often located near the centre of a country for better accessibility and protection from invasions. The location may also be based on a compromise between different political divisions or historical reasons. |
| Functions | Capitals typically encompass the government's offices, meeting places, supreme court, legislature, embassies, and other central political institutions. In some jurisdictions, different branches of government may be located in separate settlements, resulting in multiple official capitals. |
| Distinction | A distinction may be made between the official (constitutional) capital and the seat of government, which can be in different places. |
| Terminology | The term "Capitol" specifically refers to a legislative building, especially in the United States, and should not be confused with "capital," which denotes a city. |
| Examples | Examples of capitals designated by their constitutions include Washington, D.C. in the United States and Berlin in Germany. Capitals without a legal designation in their constitutions include Paris and London. |
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What You'll Learn
Capitalisation of 'Constitution' in English
The capitalisation of "constitution" in English depends on the style and context. Technically, "constitution", like "president", is not a proper noun, so it shouldn't be capitalised. However, when discussing a specific country's constitution, it is common to capitalise it as a proper noun. For example, in an article about "The Constitution of the United States of America", it is normal to use the capitalised "the Constitution" as shorthand after spelling out the full name initially. Similarly, when referring to President Donald J. Trump, one might also say that he is "the president of the United States, which has a constitution dating from September 17, 1787".
The UK's Guardian newspaper, however, takes an iconoclastic approach, often choosing not to capitalise such terms, even "queen" unless it is a formal reference to Queen Elizabeth II. So, for non-US publications, it may be recommended not to capitalise 'constitution' unless it is the first word of a sentence.
In general, when discussing a named document, committee, or similar entity, if a common word in the official title is used as shorthand for the entity, that word is often capitalised.
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Capitals in the US Constitution
Capitals, in the context of the US Constitution, refer to the capital city or municipality that holds primary status in a country or state. It is typically the city that physically encompasses the government's offices and meeting places, such as the Capitol, the seat of the US Congress. The location of the US capital city was addressed by the Framers of the US Constitution, who recognized the need for a Federal City that was not controlled by a state government. This was a unique endeavour, as most other capitals at the time were seats of royal power and home to monarchs.
The decision of where to locate the US capital city was contentious, with Northern states preferring a location in Pennsylvania or New York, while Southern states favoured a more southern location. Alexander Hamilton helped broker a compromise, where the federal government would assume the unpaid debts incurred during the Revolution, in exchange for support from Northern states for locating the capital along the Potomac River. This compromise allowed President George Washington to select the site for the capital, which became Washington, D.C.
The US Capitol, the building that houses the US Congress, is located on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The term "Capitol" originates from the Latin "Capitolium", referring to the Capitoline Hill in Rome. The term was later applied to legislative buildings, with the first such building in the US being the Williamsburg Capitol in Virginia. The US Capitol was designed by Pierre L'Enfant and construction began in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The building has undergone expansions and restorations over the years, including after the Burning of Washington in 1814, and the addition of the massive dome in the mid-19th century. Today, the Capitol is a neoclassical building with a white exterior, featuring various halls and rooms, including the Hall of Columns and the Senate baths.
In terms of linguistic conventions, the US Constitution is often capitalised as "Constitution" when referring specifically to the US Constitution, treating it as a proper noun. This is due to the American veneration for their political system's institutions, elevating these terms to the status of proper nouns.
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Capitals in the French Constitution
The concept of a "capital" in the context of a constitution typically refers to the designated capital city of a country or state, serving as the seat of government and often housing important institutions such as the legislature, executive branch, and supreme court. Now, let's discuss the specifics of capitals in the French Constitution:
The French Constitution, established in 1958, does not explicitly recognise a capital city. However, Paris is the de facto capital and serves as the seat of both houses of Parliament: the National Assembly and the Senate. Paris has a long history as the residence of the Kings of France and has been the country's capital since its liberation in 1944.
The French Constitution establishes a semi-presidential system, with a president and a prime minister. It outlines the roles of these executive figures, with the president acting as the guardian of the state and the constitution, and the prime minister directing the government's actions and policies. The constitution also sets out the legislative powers of parliament, although it has limited competence, as the executive retains significant regulatory powers.
The French Constitution guarantees fundamental principles such as the separation of church and state, democracy, social welfare, and indivisibility. It establishes the country as a secular and democratic republic, deriving its sovereignty from the people. The constitution also outlines the role of the Constitutional Council, which monitors the compliance of legislative activities with constitutional provisions.
In the French Constitution, the national emblem is designated as the tricolour flag, and the national anthem as "La Marseillaise". It emphasises the maxim of "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" and outlines the role of the republic in fostering solidarity and cooperation with other French-speaking states. The constitution also addresses suffrage and representation, ensuring universal and equal voting rights for all French citizens.
While Paris functions as the capital, the joint congresses of the National Assembly and the Senate are held at the Palace of Versailles, which holds historical significance as the former seat of the French court during the reign of Louis XIV. In emergency situations, the constitutional powers can be transferred to another town, allowing the Houses of Parliament to convene in the same location as the President and Cabinet.
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Capitals in the German Constitution
The capital of Germany is Berlin, which is home to the parliament and the highest bodies of the executive branch, including the ceremonial presidency and effective chancellery. Berlin has been the capital of reunified Germany since 1990, but this was not always the case.
Before 1871, Germany was not a unified nation-state and had no capital city. The medieval German Holy Roman Empire used to have Aachen as its preferred seat of government during Charlemagne's reign. Frankfurt was briefly the official capital during the 1848 German Revolutions. With the unification of Germany in 1871, Berlin became the capital of the German Reich, as it had been the capital of Prussia, the leading state of the new Reich, since 1518.
During the First World War, the national assembly briefly met in Weimar as civil war ravaged Berlin. Berlin remained the capital of the German Reich until 1945, when it was captured by the Allies, and Germany was divided into West Germany and East Germany. Berlin was also divided into West Berlin and East Berlin, with the latter serving as the capital of East Germany.
West Germany's capital was initially Bonn, a smaller university city chosen because it was seen as a more obviously provisional solution than Frankfurt, a major city in its own right. Some ministries and government departments remain in Bonn today.
In 1991, after an emotional debate, the Bundestag voted to move the seat of government to Berlin by 1999. Although Berlin is officially the capital of reunified Germany, 8,000 out of 18,000 federal officials still work in Bonn.
The German Constitution, known as the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany (Grundgesetz), was approved in 1949 and retained as the definitive constitution upon reunification in 1990. The term "constitution" (Verfassung) was avoided as the drafters regarded the Grundgesetz as an interim arrangement, expecting that a reunified Germany would adopt a proper constitution. The Grundgesetz establishes the Federal Court of Justice, the Federal Administrative Court, the Federal Finance Court, the Federal Labour Court, and the Federal Social Court as supreme courts in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
The Federal Constitutional Court, Germany's "judicial capital", is located in Karlsruhe. Various ministries are located in the former West German capital of Bonn, which now has the title "Federal City".
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Capitals in the Portuguese Constitution
The concept of a "capital" in the context of a constitution refers to the official capital city of a country or state, which serves as the seat of government and often holds symbolic significance. Now, let's discuss the specifics of capitals in the Portuguese Constitution.
The Portuguese Constitution, officially the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic, underwent several iterations before the current version was adopted in 1976 following the Carnation Revolution. Interestingly, the Portuguese Constitution makes no reference to a capital city. This is similar to the French Constitution, which also does not recognise any official capital.
Throughout history, Portugal has had five royal capitals, reflecting the dynamic nature of the country's development. The first capital of Portugal was Guimarães, located in the north of the country and considered the birthplace of the nation. Subsequently, the capital moved to Coimbra, located in central Portugal, where it remained from 1139 to 1255.
The lack of a specified capital in the Portuguese Constitution may be due to the historical evolution of the country and the need for flexibility. Today, Lisbon is widely recognised as the capital of Portugal, as it is the seat of the administrative government. However, it is important to note that there is no official document declaring Lisbon as the capital, and the city's status as the capital is assumed based on the presence of the administrative functions.
In conclusion, while the Portuguese Constitution does not explicitly mention a capital, the country has a rich history of royal capitals, with Lisbon currently serving as the administrative centre of the nation. The absence of an official declaration of Lisbon as the capital may be a unique characteristic of the Portuguese political system, allowing for adaptability and a focus on the distribution of powers outlined in the constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
The word "Constitution" is often capitalised when referring to the US Constitution as it is treated as a proper noun. This is because it is a specific named document and common shorthand for "The Constitution of the United States of America" or "The US Constitution".
No, some style guides differentiate between national constitutions and those of subordinate governments, arguing that only the former should be capitalised. For example, "The Wisconsin Constitution" becomes "the constitution" in a generic reference, but "the United States Constitution" is still "the Constitution".
No, "Constitution" should not be capitalised when referring to a country's constitution other than America's. This is because it is not a proper noun and is only a common noun in this context.
The decision to capitalise "Constitution" in legal texts is often codified in media style guides and may vary depending on the publication. Some style guides argue that only references to national constitutions should be capitalised, while others treat all constitutions as proper nouns and capitalise them.
