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Title

Ch6 The Speaker, Deputy Speakers and officers / STAFF OF THE HOUSE AND ADMINISTRATION / Principal staff of the House / Serjeant-at-Arms

Database

House Practice

Date

01-05-2005

Source

House of Reps

Parl No.

41

Chapter

The Speaker, Deputy Speakers and officers

Chapter No.

Chapter 06

Page

207

Section No.

 

System Id

procedural/practcer/chapter06.48.doc


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Ch6 The Speaker, Deputy Speakers and officers / STAFF OF THE HOUSE AND ADMINISTRATION / Principal staff of the House / Serjeant-at-Arms



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House of Representatives                                Ch 6                                                 p 207

 

The Speaker, Deputy Speakers and officers / STAFF OF THE HOUSE AND ADMINISTRATION / Principal staff of the House

 

Serjeant-at-Arms

The Serjeant-at-Arms is another office having its origins in early English parliamentary history. About the end of the 14th century the office assumed a form recognisable in its descendant of today. Early concepts of the role of the Serjeant-at-Arms as ‘attendant upon the Speaker’ and acting only ‘on the instruction of the Speaker’ still characterise the functions of the Serjeant-at-Arms today. Over the centuries the Serjeant-at-Arms as bearer of the Mace became identified with protecting the privileges of the Commons, the Speaker being the guardian, the Serjeant-at-Arms the enforcer.

The Serjeant-at-Arms’ functions in the Chamber are associated mainly with the ceremony of Parliament and the preservation of order. Bearing the Mace on the right shoulder, the Serjeant-at-Arms precedes the Speaker into the Chamber and announces the Speaker to Members. The Serjeant-at-Arms, the Deputy Serjeant or Assistant Serjeant attends in the Chamber at all times when the House is sitting. The duties of the Serjeant-at-Arms in the Chamber include the recording of Members’ attendance and delivering messages to the Senate. If a Member refuses to follow the Speaker’s direction, the Speaker may order the Serjeant-at-Arms to remove the Member from the Chamber or the Main Committee or take the Member into custody. 1 The Serjeant-at-Arms announces to the Speaker any visitor seeking formal entrance to the Chamber, such as the Usher of the Black Rod. The Serjeant-at-Arms is responsible for maintaining order in the galleries and can remove or take into custody any visitor or person other than a Member who disturbs the operation of the Chamber or the Main Committee. 2 Outside the Chamber the responsibilities of the Serjeant-at-Arms include the provision of a range of support services and the security of that part of the parliamentary precincts occupied by the House of Representatives.

On certain ceremonial occasions a male Serjeant-at-Arms wears the traditional Court dress of knee breeches, buckled shoes, lace jabot and cuffs, gloves, and sword and carries a cocked hat. A female Serjeant-at-Arms wears a specially designed skirt, or slacks, in place of the knee breeches.



S.O. 94(f).



S.O. 96. If a person is taken into custody the Serjeant-at-Arms must report this to the House without delay.