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January 14, 2021
House Sergeant at Arms: A Primer
The Sergeant at Arms is an elected officer of the House of
In at least one instance, following the retirement of Wilson
Representatives and is the chamber’s primary law
“Bill” Livingood on January 17, 2012, the House
enforcement official and protocol officer, responsible for
considered a resolution (H.Res. 511, 112th Congress) to
maintaining security on the House floor and the House side
elect Paul Irving as Sergeant at Arms the same day.
of the U.S. Capitol complex. Initially established during the
First Congress, when the House elected Joseph Wheaton of
117th Congress
Rhode Island on May 12, 1789, the Sergeant at Arms
On January 3, 2021, the House reelected Paul Irving as
performs duties according to law, House rules, and custom.
Sergeant at Arms for a sixth Congress. On January 7, 2021,
he resigned as Sergeant at Arms following the events of
January 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol during the joint session
“The House, according to the order of the day,
of Congress to certify and count the 2020 presidential
election electoral votes. On January 11, 2021, the Speaker,
proceeded by bal ot to the appointment of a Sergeant-
pursuant to her authority under 2 U.S.C. §5501, appointed
at-Arms; and upon examining the bal ots, a majority of
Timothy Blodgett as acting Sergeant at Arms.
the votes of the whole House was found in favor of
Joseph Wheaton.”
Immediate Past Sergeant at Arms
Annals of Congress, May 12, 1789, p. 330
Since 1980, six individuals have served as House Sergeant
at Arms. Table 1 lists the Sergeants at Arms since 1980,
and when they first took office.
Selection Process
Table 1. Sergeants at Arms of the House, 1980-2021
The House of Representatives, on the first day of a new
Sergeant at
First Took
Congress, typically elects the House Sergeant at Arms.
Congresses
Arms
Office
Generally, the election occurs with the adoption of a House
Resolution (H.Res.). After the resolution’s introduction, the
96th (1979-80) to
Benjamin Guthrie
March 1, 1980
minority party typically offers an amendment to nominate
97th (1981-82)
its own candidate for office. Once the House disposes of the
minority-party amendment, the House votes to agree to the
98th (1983-84) to
Jack Russ
January 3, 1983
resolution and elect the Sergeant at Arms . The previous two
102nd (1991-92)
Sergeants at Arms—Wilson “Bill” Livingood and Paul
102nd (1991-92) to Werner Brandt
March 12, 1992
Irving—served through changes in the majority party, being
103rd (1993-94)
elected by both Republican and Democratic majorities . The
Sergeant at Arms was last elected on January 3, 2021, for
104th (1995-96) to Wilson “Bil ”
January 4, 1995
the 117th Congress (2021-2022). He resigned on January 7,
112th (2011-12)
Livingood
2021.
112th (2011-12) to Paul Irvinga
January 17, 2012
Acting Appointment by Speaker
117th (2021-22)
In several instances, the incumbent Sergeant at Arms did
117th (2021-22)
Timothy Blodgettb
January 11, 2021
not complete his term. Should an incumbent Sergeant at
Source: U.S. Congress, Office of the Historian, “Sergeants at Arms,”
Arms not complete a term, the Speaker of the House,
at https://history.house.gov/People/Office/Sergeants-at-Arms.
pursuant to 2 U.S.C. §5501, has the power to appoint an
Notes:
acting Sergeant at Arms. Alternatively, a resolution to elect
a.
Paul Irving announced his resignation on January 7, 2021.
a new Sergeant at Arms could be considered in the House.
b. Timothy Blodgett was appointed as Acting Sergeant at Arms on
January 11, 2021.
Since the Speaker was given this appointment authority in
1953, it has been used on multiple occasions in previous
Congresses: in 1954 with the resignation of Lyle Snader
Duties of the Sergeant at Arms
and the appointment of William Bonsell; in 1980 with the
As the chief law enforcement officer of the House, the
resignation of Kenneth Harding and the appointment of
Sergeant at Arms is responsible for security in the House
Benjamin Guthrie; and in 1992 with the resignation of Jack
wing of the Capitol, in the House office buildings, and on
Russ and the appointment of Werner Brandt. In two of
adjacent grounds. Under the direction of the Speaker of the
these cases—Guthrie and Brandt—the acting Sergeant at
House or other presiding officer, the Sergeant at Arms plays
Arms was subsequently elected by the House.
an integral role in maintaining order and decorum in the
House chamber.
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House Sergeant at Arms: A Primer
Protection and Security
and escort visiting foreign dignitaries; and to organize and
The Sergeant at Arms is responsible for ensuring the safety
coordinate arrangements for travel for Members of
and security of Members of the House; congressional staff;
Congress to congressional funerals.
official visitors to the House, including visiting national and
foreign dignitaries; and tourists. Toward this mission, the
Additionally, the Sergeant at Arms carries the mace into the
Sergeant at Arms sometimes works in concert with the
House chamber each day the House is in session. According
Senate Sergeant at Arms and the Architect of the Capitol.
to the Office of the House Historian, the Sergeant at Arms
These three officials comprise the Capitol Police Board,
places the mace atop a pedestal on the Rostrum, to the right
with the U.S. Capitol Police Chief serving as an ex-officio
of the Speaker. This symbolizes that the House is in session
member (2 U.S.C. §1901 note). The House Sergeant at
and the mace remains in place while the House is in
Arms also serves with the Clerk of the House, the Senate
session. Figure 1 shows the House mace.
Sergeant at Arms, the Secretary of the Senate, and the
Architect of the Capitol on the Congressional Accessibility
Figure 1. Mace of the U.S. House of Representatives
Services Board (2 U.S.C. §2172). This board oversees the
Office of Congressional Accessibility Services, which
provides and coordinates accessibility services for
individuals with disabilities in the U.S. Capitol complex.
To carry out its protection and security function, the House
Sergeant at Arms derives its law enforcement authorities
from laws that date to 1867 (15 Stat. 12). The Sergeant at
Arms is also “authorized to make such regulations as they
may deem necessary for preserving the peace and securing
the Capitol from defacement, and for the protection of the
public property therein, and they shall have power to arrest
and detain any person violating such regulations, until such
person can be brought before the proper authorities for
trial” (2 U.S.C. §2183).
The Sergeant at Arms also processes security clearances for
House employees through the Office of House Security
Source: U.S. Congress, Office of the House Historian, “Mace of the
(OHS). The OHS also provides briefings and assistance for
U.S. House of Representatives,” at https://history.house.gov/Blog/
Members and staff regarding foreign travel and protecting
2017/December/12-4-mace/.
personally identifiable information (PII). In addition, OHS
acts as a repository for classified documents and provides a
Administrative
secure location for the review of those documents.
The Sergeant at Arms performs administrative services in
support of Members, staff, and visitors. Many of these
Order and Decorum
functions are associated with House security and
The Sergeant at Arms (or a designated SAA assistant)
operations. These include the operation of the House
attends all floor sessions and is tasked with maintaining
appointment desk and the House parking garages and lots.
order under the direction of the Speaker or other presiding
officer (Rule II, clause 3). Additionally, House rules
House rules require the Sergeant at Arms to report
designate the mace as the symbol of the Office of the
semiannually to the Committee on House Administration
Sergeant at Arms and provide that the mace “shall be borne
the financial and operational status of each function under
by the Sergeant-at-Arms while enforcing order on the floor”
Sergeant at Arms jurisdiction (Rule II, clause 3(e)). The
(Rule II, clause 3(b)). Further, the Sergeant at Arms may be
reports generally provide financial information, describe
directed to compel absent Members to attend House
current operations, and present new and future plans.
sessions in order to achieve the necessary quorum by
escorting them to the chamber (Rule XX). Both practices
The House Sergeant at Arms is divided into eight divisions
have been rare, particularly in recent years. The Sergeant at
to support the office’s protection and security, decorum,
Arms also enforces the rules relating to the privileges of the
protocol, and administrative functions. They are Immediate
Hall of the House (House Rule II, clause 3(c)).
Office/Member Support; Protocol and Chamber Operations;
House Garages & Parking Security; Information Services;
Protocol
Identification Services; Police Services/Law Enforcement;
The Sergeant at Arms performs a number of protocol and
House Security; and Emergency Management.
ceremonial duties. Among these duties are to lead formal
processions of House Members at ceremonial events (e.g.,
Jacob R. Straus, Specialist on the Congress
presidential inaugurations, joint sessions and meetings of
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Congress, and other formal addresses to Congress); to greet
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House Sergeant at Arms: A Primer
Disclaimer
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