THE STATEHOUSE - ELITE SPACE IN CONFLICT

The American statehouse, or state capitol as it is often called, is a form of elite space in that it is controlled and occupied by the state governing elite. This space is in conflict in the sense that non-elit e groups seek free movement and the right to protest within this space , while the governing elite attempts to protect officials from harm an d prevent disruption to state business. These conflicting positions ar e seen as equally valid, in that both are necessary to a successful op erating democratic system. How the two clash and are reconciled in pra ctice is studied by empirically reviewing the regulation of space in s tatehouses all across the nation. It is found that the nature of this regulation depends on whether the space is exclusive, operational, of an audience or civic character, or circulatory in art interior or exte rior sense. The paper concludes that in some ways art appropriate bala nce is achieved between the principles of protection and exposure, but in others it is not. Several proposals are made for increasing access to statehouse space on the one hand and increasing its security on th e other.