

Until 1989, the architect of the Capitol was appointed by the president of the United States for an indefinite term. The head of the agency sits on the Capitol Police Board, which has jurisdiction over the United States Capitol Police, and on the United States Capitol Guide Board, which has jurisdiction over the United States Capitol Guide Service. The agency had 2,444 employees and an annual budget of approximately $788 million as of September 2022. The head of the agency is appointed to a 10-year term by the President of the United States, confirmed by the United States Senate, and is accountable to the President. Both the agency and the head of the agency are called "Architect of the Capitol". It is an agency of the legislative branch of the federal government and is accountable to the United States Congress and the Supreme Court.

The Architect of the Capitol ( AOC) is the federal agency responsible for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the United States Capitol Complex.
