The
seat of government is defined by Brewer's Politics as "the building, complex of buildings or city from which a
government exercises its
authority". The seat of government is usually located in the
capital. In
some countries the seat of government differs from the capital, e.g. in
the Netherlands where
The Hague is the seat of government and
Amsterdam is the Capital of the Netherlands.
Australia
The seat of government and national capital is
Canberra in the
Australian Capital Territory, a territory excised from
New South Wales in accordance with the
Constitution and the
Seat of Government Act of 1908. However, until 1927 the
de facto capital was
Melbourne.
United States
The seat of government of the United States was established by the
United States Constitution in
article I,
section 8, clause 17:
"The Congress shall have power ... to exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful buildings; ..."
The seat of government of the United States has been in
Washington, D.C. since 1800. Before 1800, Congress met in
eight different locations.
Other seats of governments:
