House Sergeant at Arms: A Primer

https://crsreports.congress.gov

Updated January 13, 2025

House Sergeant at Arms: A Primer

The Sergeant at Arms (SAA) is an elected officer of the House of Representatives and is the chamber’s primary law enforcement official and protocol officer, responsible for maintaining security on the House floor and the House side of the U.S. Capitol complex. Initially established during the First Congress, when the House elected Joseph Wheaton of Rhode Island on May 12, 1789, the SAA performs duties according to law, House rules, and custom.

Selection Process

The House of Representatives, on the first day of a new Congress, typically elects the House SAA. Generally, the election occurs with the adoption of a House Resolution (H.Res.). After the resolution’s introduction, the minority party typically offers an amendment to nominate its own candidate for office. Once the House disposes of the minority-party amendment, the House votes to agree to the resolution and elect the SAA. Two recent SAAs—Wilson “Bill” Livingood and Paul Irving—served through changes in the majority party, being elected by both Republican and Democratic majorities. The current SAA, William McFarland, was appointed as acting SAA on January 6, 2023 (second legislative day). On September 20, 2023, the House elected McFarland as SAA (H.Res. 705). On January 3, 2025, the House reelected McFarland for the 119th Congress (H.Res. 1).

Acting Appointment by Speaker In several instances, the Speaker of the House, pursuant to 2 U.S.C. §5501, has appointed an acting SAA. Alternatively, the House could consider a resolution to elect a new SAA.

Since the Speaker was given this appointment authority in 1953, it has been used on multiple occasions: in 1954 with the resignation of Lyle Snader and the appointment of William Bonsell; in 1980 with the resignation of Kenneth Harding and the appointment of Benjamin Guthrie; in 1992 with the resignation of Jack Russ and the appointment of Werner Brandt; in 2021 with the resignation of Paul Irving and the appointment of acting SAA Timothy Blodgett; and in 2023 with the appointment of William McFarland. In three of these cases—Guthrie, Brandt, and McFarland—the acting SAA was subsequently elected by the House.

In at least one instance, following the retirement of Wilson “Bill” Livingood on January 17, 2012, the House considered a resolution (H.Res. 511, 112th Congress) to elect Paul Irving as SAA the same day.

117th Congress On January 3, 2021, the House reelected Paul Irving as SAA for a sixth Congress. On January 7, 2021, he resigned as SAA following the events of January 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol during the joint session of Congress to certify and count the 2020 presidential election electoral votes. On January 11, 2021, Speaker Pelosi, pursuant to her authority under 2 U.S.C. §5501, appointed Timothy Blodgett as acting SAA. On April 21, 2021, the House elected William Walker as SAA (H.Res. 339), effective April 26, 2021.

Sergeant at Arms Since 1980

Since 1980, eight individuals have served as House SAA or acting SAA. Table 1 lists the SAAs since 1980.

Table 1. Sergeants at Arms of the House, 1980-2025

Congresses

Sergeant at

Arms First Took Office

96th (1979-80) to 97th (1981-82)

Benjamin Guthrie March 1, 1980

98th (1983-84) to 102nd (1991-92)

Jack Russ January 3, 1983

102nd (1991-92) to 103rd (1993-94)

Werner Brandt March 12, 1992

104th (1995-96) to 112th (2011-12)

Wilson “Bill” Livingood

January 4, 1995

112th (2011-12) to 117th (2021-22)

Paul Irvinga January 17, 2012

117th (2021-22) Timothy Blodgettb

January 11, 2021

117th (2021-22) William Walker April 26, 2021c

118th (2023-24) to 119th (2025-26)

William McFarlandd

January 6, 2023d

Sources: U.S. Congress, Office of the Historian, “Sergeants at Arms.”

Notes:

Paul Irving announced his resignation on January 7, 2021.

Timothy Blodgett was appointed as Acting SAA on January 11, 2021.

William Walker was elected by the House on April 21, 2021.

William McFarland was appointed as Acting SAA on January 6, 2023 (second legislative day). On September 20, 2023, McFarland was elected as SAA (H.Res. 705).

“The House, according to the order of the day, proceeded by ballot to the appointment of a Sergeant- at-Arms; and upon examining the ballots, a majority of the votes of the whole House was found in favor of Joseph Wheaton.”

Annals of Congress, May 12, 1789, p. 330

House Sergeant at Arms: A Primer

https://crsreports.congress.gov

Duties of the Sergeant at Arms

As the chief law enforcement officer of the House, the SAA is responsible for security in the House wing of the Capitol, in the House office buildings, and on adjacent grounds. Under the direction of the Speaker of the House or another presiding officer, the SAA plays an integral role in maintaining order and decorum in the House chamber.

Protection and Security The SAA is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of Members of the House; congressional staff; official visitors to the House, including visiting foreign dignitaries; and tourists. Toward this mission, the SAA sometimes works in concert with the Senate SAA and the Architect of the Capitol. These three officials comprise the Capitol Police Board, with the U.S. Capitol Police Chief serving as an ex-officio member (2 U.S.C. §1901 note). The House SAA also serves with the Clerk of the House, the Senate SAA, 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 SAA derives its law enforcement authorities from laws that date to 1867 (15 Stat. 12). The SAA 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 SAA also processes security clearances for House employees through the Office of House Security (OHS). The OHS also provides briefings and assistance for Members and staff regarding foreign travel and protecting personally identifiable information (PII). In addition, OHS acts as a repository for classified documents and provides a secure location for the review of those documents.

Order and Decorum The SAA (or a designated SAA assistant) attends all floor sessions and is tasked with maintaining order under the direction of the Speaker or other presiding officer (Rule II, clause 3). Additionally, House rules designate the mace as the symbol of the Office of the SAA and provide that the mace “shall be borne by the Sergeant-at-Arms while enforcing order on the floor” (Rule II, clause 3(b)). Further, the SAA may be directed to compel absent Members to attend House sessions in order to achieve the necessary quorum by escorting them to the chamber (Rule XX). Both practices have been rare, particularly in recent years. The SAA also enforces the rules relating to the privileges of the Hall of the House (Rule II, clause 3(c)).

Protocol The SAA performs a number of protocol and ceremonial duties. Among these duties are to lead formal processions

of House Members at ceremonial events (e.g., presidential inaugurations, joint sessions and meetings of Congress, and other formal addresses to Congress); to greet and escort visiting foreign dignitaries; and to organize and coordinate arrangements for travel for Members of Congress to congressional funerals.

Additionally, the SAA carries the mace into the House chamber each day the House is in session. According to the Office of the House Historian, the SAA places the mace atop a pedestal on the Rostrum, to the right of the Speaker. This symbolizes that the House is in session and the mace remains in place while the House is in session. Figure 1 shows the House mace.

Figure 1. Mace of the U.S. House of Representatives

Source: U.S. Congress, Office of the House Historian, “Mace of the U.S. House of Representatives.”

Administrative The SAA performs administrative services in support of Members, staff, and visitors. Many of these functions are associated with House security and operations. These include the operation of the House appointment desk and the House parking garages and lots.

House rules require the SAA to report semiannually to the Committee on House Administration the financial and operational status of each function under SAA jurisdiction (Rule II, clause 3(e)). The reports generally provide financial information, describe current operations, and present new and future plans.

The House SAA’s office is divided into eight divisions to support the office’s protection and security, decorum, protocol, and administrative functions. They are Immediate Office/Member Support; Protocol and Chamber Operations; House Garages & Parking Security; Information Services; Identification Services; Police Services/Law Enforcement; House Security; and Emergency Management.

Jacob R. Straus, Specialist on the Congress

IF11727

House Sergeant at Arms: A Primer

https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11727 · VERSION 6 · UPDATED

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