I was wondering are US citizens allowed into public gallries of the Senate and into committee meetings? The reason I ask is that in the UK citizens can go into Parliament as they please and go into public committee meetings without a pass or needing to book.

www.visitthecapitol.gov:

(When I've been to DC, the lines to the Visitor Center have been to long for me to bother.)

Most of the House and Senate committee hearings take place in the House and Senate office buildings (e.g., Rayburn, Hart, etc.). There are no requirements to observe these hearings -- you just need to clear security to enter the building. Popular hearings will have queues and so it is possible that you won't be able to get into the room. Such queues created a mini-industry of line sitters that lobbyists and others employ to wait in line for them.

Attending a committee hearing is one of the lesser-known things I recomend to visitors, especially those who have been to the more obvious tourist places in D.C.

Thats interesting to know. Are the random bag searches still in place and are they only for the Metro? It might be better taking the buses.

Metro reserves the right to conduct random bag searches on both bus and subway, although they very, very rarely do so. There's no question you'll have your bag searched before entering the hearing room, though.

Does anyone know if the British embassy can still help with tours of the White House and Senate?

The Embassy website states that they are currently not able to facilitate White House tours (no word on the Senate/U.S. Capitol Building):

http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/help-fo...onals/wh-tours

Thats soo annoying! On thw White House website it says contact your embassy. I'll give them a call anyway because to enquire about the Capitol and Pentagon buildings.

what is your problem with that? i'm still waiting for my 10 downing st tour. i have also been unable to visit the private home of the heads of italy, germany, italy, spain. i did visit the kremlin, had to pay a big fee, only to find that the head of russia lived next door.

white house tours do exist. they are usually given to "special" groups. there are probably about 1-2 hundred of them a year. they are pretty much only allowed when the first family is away. lot of them during the bush administration. as late as the mid 19th C, one could walk up, knock on the front door, and be admitted and see the president(as long as that person be the correct color and sex)

Well, not quite. Anyone can request a Whie House tour through their Congressional Rep or Senator, these tours are self-guided and take place 5 days a week with timed entry.Although they are obviously canceled if something is taking place in the function rooms that are part of the tour and can be canceled at any time for any reason, really.

There are special "VIP" tours that are also given. The tours for the general public take place regardless of whether the First Family is away or not. Overseas visitors often have problems getting tours as they obviously don't have a representative in Washington. As the White House web site says, "contact your embassy". Problem being many of the embassies are simply too busy to deal with these requests and thus provide no help to their citizens requesting them.

Because 10 Downing street tours do not exist for anybody and like what ColumbiaPete White House tours are available for the general public.

In the same spirit, you might also want to visit the U.S. Supreme Court. There is a guided tour/presentation and then self-guided exhibits. There is even a gift shop for that lawyer in your life!

I don't know if tours are still possible, but you may want to visit the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (formerly Old Executive Office Building), which is located next door to the White House. This building includes the official office of the Vice President, etc., and is worth seeing. Tours were given only on Saturday morning and by reservation. Don't know if there are any citizenship requirements. Don't know if the tours are still available.