The Mace and the Gavel: Symbols of Government in America

One of the urgent priorities of the first Federal Congress was the formation of its organization, formulation of rules for its conduct, & the selection of appropriate officials & devices to represent their authority. Following British tradition, the newly organized House of Representatives & the Senate each appointed a Sergeant-at-Arms. For its symbol of the commonality of the American people, the House adopted the mace in the tradition of its mother country, while the Senate utilized a gavel or knocker. First used during meetings in New York of the House of Representatives, the mace was destroyed by the British when they burned Washington, & it was not until 1841 that another was acquired. Over the years the mace has been used primarily to quell quarrels between Congressmen on the floor, & to bring absent House members to meetings so that a quorum could be formed. The mace has been invariably effective in bringing order among turbulent House members. Although a Sergeant at Arms served the same function in the United States Senate, he was not provided with a mace. Order was maintained by an ivory knocker or form of gavel that has been used for the purpose for almost two centuries.