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A serjeant-at-arms or sergeant-at-arms [a] 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".
The sergeant at arms is also responsible for ensuring the safety and security of members of Congress, the congressional staff, visiting dignitaries, and tourists. Toward this end, the sergeant at arms works in concert with the Senate sergeant at arms and the Architect of the Capitol.
The sergeant at arms can, upon orders of the Senate, arrest and detain any person who violates Senate rules, [1] or is found in contempt of Congress. [4] The sergeant at arms is also the executive officer for the Senate and provides senators with computers, equipment, and repair and security services. [1]
According to the House, the sergeant-at-arms is an elected officer who is the chief law enforcement and protocol officer responsible for maintaining order in the House.
Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan said, "The Chair appoints Timothy Paul Blodgett of the state of New York to act as and to exercise the duties of sergeant of arms of the House of Representatives ...
A specific kind of military sergeant was the serjeant-at-arms, one of a body of armed men retained by English lords and monarchs. The title is now given to an officer in modern legislative bodies who is charged with keeping order during meetings and, if necessary, forcibly removing disruptive members.
The resolution stated "a proper symbol of office shall be provided for the Sergeant at Arms, of such form and device as the Speaker shall direct." The first Speaker of the House, Frederick Muhlenberg of Pennsylvania, approved the mace as the proper symbol of the Sergeant at Arms in carrying out the duties of this office. [2]
In November 2018, the Serjeant at Arms was called upon to escort an American businessman, who was staying in London, to the Houses of Parliament because he had documents pertaining to the Facebook–Cambridge Analytica data scandal. After being told he could face arrest, fines and imprisonment for failing to comply with a parliamentary order to ...