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States decide on the constitutionality of laws, government
practices, and decisions of lower courts.
The white marble exterior of the Supreme Court Building
resembles a Greek temple. The room where the justices hear cases
is decorated with long, red drapes, copper gates, and marble
columns. Visitors may attend sessions of the court. But seating is
limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
United States Botanic Garden is located on the southwest
side of Capitol Hill. It exhibits 10,000 kinds of plants, including
many rare species.
Folger Shakespeare Library, east of the main Library of
Congress building, houses the world's most important collection of
works by and about William Shakespeare. Only scholars may use
its materials. But the library displays rare books and manuscripts
for public viewing.

METROPOLITAN AREA

The Washington metropolitan area, as defined by the federal
government, includes the District of Columbia; Calvert, Charles,
Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince Georges counties in Maryland;
Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, and Stafford
counties in Virginia; and five Virginia cities that are not part of a
county-Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and
Manassas Park.
The counties of Washington's metropolitan area include both
suburban cities and towns and large open areas of hills, woods, and
farms. Most of the suburban cities and towns are under the
jurisdiction of the counties in which they are located.
In the Washington area, as in other metropolitan areas, large
numbers of people who live in the suburbs work in the city.
However, since the 1960's, many government agencies have
moved from the city to the suburbs. In addition, many private
businesses have been established in the suburbs. As a result, large
numbers of people - from both the city and the suburbs - work in
the suburbs. For example, more than 23,000 people work for the
Department of Defense in the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. Other
federal government agencies that are located in the suburbs include