Seats of Government Quiz | World Sites

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. One of Europe's newest Parliament buildings, designed by Spanish architect Enric Miralles, opened in 2004. Can you recognize which country's parliament this is from the photo of the public entrance?

Answer: Scotland

Devolution in 1999 gave Scotland its own legislature for the first time in nearly two centuries. The imaginatively-named "Scottish Parliament Building", located in the Holyrood area of Edinburgh, was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in October 2004.

2. The executive wing of which British Commonwealth country's parliament building is nicknamed "The Beehive"?

Answer: New Zealand

"The Beehive" is the common name for the executive wing of the New Zealand Parliament Building in Wellington. Designed from a concept of Scottish architect Sir Basil Spence in 1954, it is so-named because it is shaped in the manner of a traditional woven form of beehive known as a "skep".

3. Which Scandinavian country's parliament, known as the "Al�ingi" (anglicized as "Althing"), was established in the 10th Century? The current building, the "Al�ingish�s" (pictured here with demonstrators in front of it), has been in use since 1881.

Answer: Iceland

"Al�ingi" means literally all-things, or general assembly. One of the world's oldest legislatures, the "Al�ingi" was founded in 930 some 30 miles east of where the city of Reykjav�k would be founded some 850 years later. The parliament was moved into Reykjav�k in the 1840s and became the world's northernmost national parliament when Iceland became an independent country in 1918.

4. Which Commonwealth country's parliament sits on what is known as 'The Hill'? The photo shows the country's 60th-anniversary jubilee celebrations in 1927.

Answer: Canada

Bytown was founded (by Colonel John By) in 1826. In 1855, it was incorporated as a city and renamed Ottawa. Three years later, it was selected by Queen Victoria as the capital of the Province of Canada. Ground was broken in 1859 for the building of a new Parliament on the site of a former military base called Barrack Hill. Work was completed in time for the founding of the Canadian Confederation on July 1, 1867 and the renamed Parliament Hill has been the site of Canada's legislature since that time.

5. Known as "The Roundhouse", which U.S. state is home to the only round state capitol building? It is also the highest state capitol, and the third-newest state capitol building (it was dedicated in 1966) in the oldest state capital city.

Answer: New Mexico

The two newest U.S. state capitol buildings are in Florida (competed in 1978) and in Hawaii (1969). "The Roundhouse" in Santa Fe, New Mexico, was dedicated in 1966. When viewed from above, the design resembles the Sun symbol of the Zia Pueblo peoples who are indigenous to New Mexico. Founded in 1610, the city of Santa Fe is the oldest capital city in the U.S.

The name "Santa Fe" means "holy faith" in Spanish. At an elevation of 7,200 feet above sea level, Santa Fe is the highest state capital in the U.S.

6. Completed in 1968, the Nusantara Building contains a 1,700 seat meeting hall and is home to the People's Representative Council and the Regional Representatives Council, the legislature of which Asian country?

Answer: Indonesia

The People's Consultative Assembly is the legislative body of Indonesia. It comprises the 560-member People's Representative Council and the Regional Representatives Council (132 members). It has the power to impeach the President. In May 1998, the buildings were occupied by some 80,000 students.

7. Completed in 1902, the Federal Palace (or "Bundeshaus") houses the meeting chambers for the National Council and the Council of States that make up the government of which European country?

Answer: Switzerland

The two chambers of the Federal Palace in Bern, Switzerland, are separated by the "Hall of the Dome". The dome is 33m high internally and 64m externally. The building was designed by the Swiss-Austrian architect Hans Auer.

8. The Riigikogu, which is located in the Toompea Castle complex, is the seat of government in which former Soviet republic?

Answer: Estonia

First established in 1919, the Riigikogu once again became the legislative body in Estonia following independence in 1992. Estonia's 101-member chamber is one of the unicameral (single chamber) parliaments in Europe - others include Denmark, Croatia, Hungary and Norway. Toompea Castle, located in central Tallinn, is an ancient stronghold that dates back to at least the 9th Century.

9. Inaugurated in 1932, the 34-floor 450-foot high art deco structure with an address of 900 North 3rd Street is the tallest U.S state capitol building. In which state can it be found?

Answer: Louisiana

Sometimes referred to as "Huey Long's Monument" due to his efforts to get it built, the Louisiana State Capitol Building in downtown Baton Rouge was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1982. A pencil remains embedded in the ceiling of the Senate Chamber from a terrorist bomb that was detonated there in 1970. Of the alternatives, Texas has the largest state capitol building, Maryland has the oldest active state capitol (the building was completed in 1779), and Nebraska's state capitol is the second-tallest with a 362-foot towere topped by a gold-tiled dome and spire that adds another 32 feet to the building's height.

10. Known to locals as the "Saaral Ordon" (Gray Palace), Government Palace houses the State Great Khural, the single-chamber legislature of which Asian country?

Answer: Mongolia

The site of Government Palace on the north side of S�khbaatar Square in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia began life as the central temple/palace complex of the Ikh Kh�ree monastery in the 1850s. Since then it has housed a theater, the mausoleum for revolutionary leader Damdiny S�khbaatar and, now, monuments to Genghis Khan, �gedei Khan and Kublai Khan.

Here too sits the 76-elected member State Great Khural, which draws up new laws, approves the annual budget, has the power to declare war, and nominates candidates for the direct election of the Mongolian President.

Source: Author EnglishJedi

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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Seats of Government Trivia Quiz

Some of the buildings that house legislatures are easily recognizable, whilst others may be less familiar. See how many you can identify from the clues and the photos.

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