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Updated May 20, 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. On April 21,
the votes of the whole House was found in favor of
2021, the House elected William Walker as Sergeant at
Joseph Wheaton.”
Arms (H.Res. 339), effective April 26, 2021.
Annals of Congress, May 12, 1789, p. 330
Immediate Past Sergeant at Arms
Since 1980, seven individuals have served as House
Sergeant at Arms or acting Sergeant at Arms . Table 1 lists
Selection Process
the Sergeants at Arms since 1980, and when they first took
The House of Representatives, on the first day of a new
office.
Congress, typically elects the House Sergeant at Arms.
Generally, the election occurs with the adoption of a House
Table 1. Sergeants at Arms of the House, 1980-2021
Resolution (H.Res.). After the resolution’s introduction, the
Sergeant at
First Took
minority party typically offers an amendment to nominate
Congresses
Arms
Office
its own candidate for office. Once the House disposes of the
minority-party amendment, the House votes to agree to the
96th (1979-80) to
Benjamin Guthrie
March 1, 1980
resolution and elect the Sergeant at Arms. Two recent
97th (1981-82)
Sergeants at Arms—Wilson “Bill” Livingood and Paul
Irving—served through changes in the majority party, being
98th (1983-84) to
Jack Russ
January 3, 1983
elected by both Republican and Democratic majorities . The
102nd (1991-92)
current Sergeant at Arms, William Walker, was elected on
102nd (1991-92) to Werner Brandt
March 12, 1992
April 21, 2021, and sworn in on April 26.
103rd (1993-94)
Acting Appointment by Speaker
104th (1995-96) to Wilson “Bil ”
January 4, 1995
In several instances, the incumbent Sergeant at Arms did
112th (2011-12)
Livingood
not complete his term. Should an incumbent Sergeant at
112th (2011-12) to Paul Irvinga
January 17, 2012
Arms not complete a term, the Speaker of the House,
117th (2021-22)
pursuant to 2 U.S.C. §5501, has the power to appoint an
acting Sergeant at Arms. Alternatively, the House could
117th (2021-22)
Timothy Blodgettb
January 11, 2021
consider a resolution to elect a new Sergeant at Arms.
117th (2021-22)
Wil iam Walker
April 26, 2021c
Since the Speaker was given this appointment authority in
Source: U.S. Congress, Office of the Historian, “Sergeants at Arms,”
1953, it has been used on multiple occasions in previous
at https://history.house.gov/People/Office/Sergeants-at-Arms.
Congresses: in 1954 with the resignation of Lyle Snader
Notes:
and the appointment of William Bonsell; in 1980 with the
a.
Paul Irving announced his resignation on January 7, 2021.
resignation of Kenneth Harding and the appointment of
b. Timothy Blodgett was appointed as Acting Sergeant at Arms on
Benjamin Guthrie; in 1992 with the resignation of Jack
January 11, 2021.
Russ and the appointment of Werner Brandt; and in 2021
c.
Wil iam Walker was elected by the House on April 21, 2021.
with the resignation of Paul Irving and the appointment of
acting Sergeant at Arms Timothy Blodgett. In two of these
Duties of the Sergeant at Arms
cases—Guthrie and Brandt—the acting Sergeant at Arms
As the chief law enforcement officer of the House, the
was subsequently elected by the House.
Sergeant at Arms is responsible for security in the House
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House Sergeant at Arms: A Primer
wing of the Capitol, in the House office buildings, and on
processions of House Members at ceremonial events (e.g.,
adjacent grounds. Under the direction of the Speaker of the
presidential inaugurations, joint sessions and meetings of
House or other presiding officer, the Sergeant at Arms plays
Congress, and other formal addresses to Congress); to greet
an integral role in maintaining order and decorum in the
and escort visiting foreign dignitaries; and to organize and
House chamber.
coordinate arrangements for travel for Members of
Congress to congressional funerals.
Protection and Security
The Sergeant at Arms is responsible for ensuring the safety
Additionally, the Sergeant at Arms carries the mace into the
and security of Members of the House; congressional staff;
House chamber each day the House is in session. According
official visitors to the House, including visiting national and
to the Office of the House Historian, the Sergeant at Arms
foreign dignitaries; and tourists. Toward this mission, the
places the mace atop a pedestal on the Rostrum, to the right
Sergeant at Arms sometimes works in concert with the
of the Speaker. This symbolizes that the House is in session
Senate Sergeant at Arms and the Architect of the Capitol.
and the mace remains in place while the House is in
These three officials comprise the Capitol Police Board,
session. Figure 1 shows the House mace.
with the U.S. Capitol Police Chief serving as an ex-officio
member (2 U.S.C. §1901 note). The House Sergeant at
Figure 1. Mace of the U.S. House of Representatives
Arms also serves with the Clerk of the House, the Senate
Sergeant at Arms, the Secretary of the Senate, and the
Architect of the Capitol on the Congressional Accessibility
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).
Source: U.S. Congress, Office of the House Historian, “Mace of the
U.S. House of Representatives,” at https://history.house.gov/Blog/
The Sergeant at Arms also processes security clearances for
2017/December/12-4-mace/.
House employees through the Office of House Security
(OHS). The OHS also provides briefings and assistance for
Administrative
Members and staff regarding foreign travel and protecting
The Sergeant at Arms performs administrative services in
personally identifiable information (PII). In addition, OHS
support of Members, staff, and visitors. Many of these
acts as a repository for classified documents and provides a
functions are associated with House security and
secure location for the review of those documents.
operations. These include the operation of the House
appointment desk and the House parking garages and lots.
Order and Decorum
The Sergeant at Arms (or a designated SAA assistant)
House rules require the Sergeant at Arms to report
attends all floor sessions and is tasked with maintaining
semiannually to the Committee on House Administration
order under the direction of the Speaker or other presiding
the financial and operational status of each function under
officer (Rule II, clause 3). Additionally, House rules
Sergeant at Arms jurisdiction (Rule II, clause 3(e)). The
designate the mace as the symbol of the Office of the
reports generally provide financial information, describe
Sergeant at Arms and provide that the mace “shall be borne
current operations, and present new and future plans.
by the Sergeant-at-Arms while enforcing order on the floor”
(Rule II, clause 3(b)). Further, the Sergeant at Arms may be
The House Sergeant at Arms is divided into eight divisions
directed to compel absent Members to attend House
to support the office’s protection and security, decorum,
sessions in order to achieve the necessary quorum by
protocol, and administrative functions. They are Immediate
escorting them to the chamber (Rule XX). Both practices
Office/Member Support; Protocol and Chamber Operations;
have been rare, particularly in recent years. The Sergeant at
House Garages & Parking Security; Information Services;
Arms also enforces the rules relating to the privileges of the
Identification Services; Police Services/Law Enforcement;
Hall of the House (House Rule II, clause 3(c)).
House Security; and Emergency Management.
Protocol
Jacob R. Straus, Specialist on the Congress
The Sergeant at Arms performs a number of protocol and
ceremonial duties. Among these duties are to lead formal
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House Sergeant at Arms: A Primer
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