Serjeant-at-Arms

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A Serjeant at Arms (also spelled Sergeant at Arms, and sometimes Serjeant-at-Arms) is an officer appointed by a deliberative body, usually a legislature, to keep order during its meetings. The word serjeant is derived from the Latin serviens, which means "servant."

Contents 1 Origins 2 Israel 3 United Kingdom and the Commonwealth 4 United States

Origins

The office originated in Medieval England to serve the Sovereign in a police role, much like a bailiff in more recent times. Indeed, the Serjeants at Arms constitute the oldest royal bodyguard in England, dating from the time of King Richard I (around 1189) as a formed body.

The serjeant at arms was a personal attendant upon the King, especially charged with arresting those suspected of treason. Richard I had 24 with him on the Crusades. They were formed into a 20-strong Corps of Serjeants at Arms by King Edward I in 1278, as a mounted close escort. In 1399 King Richard II limited the corps to 30 Serjeants, and King Charles II had 16. The number was reduced to 8 in 1685 and since then it has gradually declined.

The original responsibilities of the Serjeant at Arms included "collecting loans and, impressing men and ships, serving on local administration and in all sorts of ways interfering with local administration and justice." [1] Circa 1415, the British House of Commons received its first Serjeant at Arms. From that time onwards the Serjeant has been a royal appointment, the Serjeant being one of the Sovereign's Serjeants at Arms. The House of Lords has a similar officer.

The formal role of a Sergeant at Arms in modern legislative bodies is to keep order during meetings, and, if necessary, forcibly remove any members who are overly rowdy or disruptive. A Serjeant at Arms may thus be a retired soldier, police officer, or other official with experience in security. In recent times, however, the positions have often become quite ceremonial in some countries, with actual ability to eject members not necessarily being a primary requirement. The Serjeant at Arms of the House of Commons has general charge of certain administrative and custodial functions, as well as security within the chamber of the House.

Israel

The Knesset of Israel—a former British Mandate area—likewise has a sergeant-at-arms (officially known in Hebrew as "קצין הכנסת" ("katzin ha-Knesset"), lit. "Officer of the Knesset", but as "sergeant at arms" in English). The sergeant-at-arms is the commander of the Knesset Guard.

United Kingdom and the Commonwealth

In the United Kingdom there are a number of Serjeants at Arms. The best known are those attached to the House of Lords, and the Serjeant at Arms serving the Speaker of the House of Commons. The latter is responsible for maintaining security, law and order within the precincts of Parliament. The Serjeant at Arms' symbol of office is the ceremonial mace, which functions as a symbol of the Royal authority under which the House of Commons sits. Traditionally, the Serjeant at Arms carries the Mace into the House each day as he leads the Speaker's Procession. No parliament may proceed until the mace is set in its place.

In the House of Lords, the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod is the Serjeant at Arms formerly attached to the Lord Chancellor, and currently to the Lord Speaker, in his capacity as speaker of that House.

There are now, in the United Kingdom, three Serjeants at Arms attached to the Royal Household, with three more appointed to assist the Lord Speaker, and five the Speaker of the House of Commons.

Serjeants at Arms are most commonly seen in Parliament, where they assist the Speaker and the Lord Speaker in maintaining order. The Serjeants at Arms not appointed to serve Parliament, however, are honorific positions held by senior officers of the Royal Household. They guard the Crown when it is conveyed to the Houses of Parliament for the State Opening of Parliament, and attend on the infrequent making of a royal proclamation.

There is no distinctive uniform for a Serjeant at Arms. They may however be recognised by their weapon, which is a mace. Additionally the Serjeant at arms of the House of Commons is the only person allowed to wear a sword inside the House of Commons. The Serjeants at Arms serving Parliament wear Court dress rather than Court Uniform or military uniform.

Almost all legislatures elsewhere in the Commonwealth, including Australia and Canada, have adopted the British practice of appointing Serjeants at Arms.

United States

The two houses of the United States Congress have also adopted this tradition. (Main articles: US House Sergeant at Arms & US Senate Sergeant at Arms) In both cases, the sergeants are charged with the maintenance of order on the floor of the chamber (in the House, he may "display" the mace in front of an unruly member as an admonition to behave), they serve with the architect of the Capitol building on the commission that oversees the Capitol Police and security for the Congress, and they serve a variety of other functional and ceremonial roles.

In imitation, a variety of other bodies -- from state and local legislative houses (city councils, county legislatures and the like) to civic and social organizations -- have created posts of sergeants at arms, primarily to enforce order at the direction of the chair and to assist in practical details of organizing meetings.

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