The United States Capitol Guide Service is a guide

Guide

A guide is a person who leads anyone through unknown or unmapped country. This includes a guide of the real world , as well as a person who leads someone to more abstract places .-Guide - meanings related to travel and recreational pursuits:There are many variants of...

 service charged by the United States Congress

United States Congress

The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....

 to "provide guided tours of the interior of the United States Capitol Building

United States Capitol

The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...

 for the education

Education

Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...

 and enlightenment of the general public

Public

In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individuals, and the public is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociological concept of the Öffentlichkeit or public sphere. The concept of a public has also been defined in political science,...

, without charge for such tours." It exists under .

Created in 1876 in honor of the United States turning 100 years old, the Capitol Guide Service is subject to the direction, supervision, and control of a Capitol Guide Board consisting of the Architect of the Capitol

Architect of the Capitol

The Architect of the Capitol is the federal agency responsible for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the United States Capitol Complex, and also the head of that agency. The Architect of the Capitol is in the legislative branch and is responsible to the United States...

, the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, and the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives. These same three officials also make up the Capitol Police Board

Capitol Police Board

The Capitol Police Board is a group of three members who maintain jurisdiction over the United States Capitol Police. The three members of this board are the Architect of the Capitol, the Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate, and the Sergeant at Arms of the United States House of...

. Key Guide Service personnel include a the Director, four Assistant Directors, as well as a large number of regular guides.

Personnel of the Capitol Guide Service may also be transferred to the United States Capitol Police

United States Capitol Police

The United States Capitol Police is a federal police force charged with protecting the United States Congress within the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its territories.-History:...

 force at the discretion of the Capitol Guide Board to provide ushering and informational services, and other services not directly involving law enforcement. This sometimes happens during major events, such as presidential inaugurations and Lying in State ceremonies.
The Capitol Guides operate out of facilities located on the south side of the United States Capitol. Visitors are processed through the South Visitor Facility which includes security screening and then directed into the Capitol, itself, via a walk around the west front of the building to enter through a west terrace door. Behind the South Visitor Facility is a trailer, which serves as the temporary rest area and locker facility for the guides. Upon the opening of the Capitol Visitor Center(CVC), both buildings will be destroyed and all guide related operations will occur within the visitor center.

Uniform

The Capitol Guide Service has two uniforms, a full dress and summer uniform. The full dress uniform is notable for its striking red blazer with a circular patch on the left breast. Its accompanied by a white shirt, navy blue tie, and navy blue pants. It can be accompanied by a navy blue vest. It is required for ceremonies and other formal occasions, as well as cold weather. The less formal summer uniform is a red cotton short sleeve polo shirt with circular patch on the left breast. It is accompanied by navy blue pants. The summer uniform is generally not worn until temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit.