Not an American capitol

Two hundred twenty years to the day after the United States Congress voted to send the newly drafted constitution to the states for ratification,* I set foot in the Palace of Westminster, home to Congress's British analogue. Although the Parliament traces its roots to the thirteenth century, the building itself is for the most part much newer than the U.S. Capitol, having been designed in the nineteenth century, and partially reconstructed after World War II. The building's relatively young age was frequently hard to remember. The Gothic ornamentation, the relative implied significance of the monarchical presence, and general lack of space for the Members spoke strongly of days gone by.

I don't feel sufficiently knowledgeable to speak much about the specifics of the Gothic ornamentation other than to say that it is quite evident, and no significant architectural knowledge is necessary to recognize it. I can, however, easily explain the "monarchical presence" since the enormous golden throne and canopy at the head of the House of Lords. Apparently Queen Elizabeth joins them one day a year, but her seat certainly conveys her importance in her absence. As for the lack of space, there isn't enough space for all of the Members, much less space for a notebook computer or any of the other things I would imagine U.S. Senators use constantly.

I'm not exactly sure how any real work gets done in the place, but after eight centuries, I guess this organization knows what it's doing.

*also twenty years to the day after Star Trek: The Next Generation debuted