Gavel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A gavel is a small ceremonial mallet commonly made of hardwood, typically fashioned with a handle and often struck against a sound block to enhance its sounding qualities. It is a symbol of the presiding officer's authority and right to act officially in his capacity,[1] and as such, is used by presiding officers—notably chairmen and auctioneers—to call for attention or to punctuate rulings and proclamations. It is customarily struck to indicate the opening and closing of proceedings, giving rise to the phrase "gavel-to-gavel" to describe the entirety of a meeting or session.
By metonymy, the gavel represents the entire judiciary system, especially of judgeship; to "bring down the gavel" means to enforce or compel with the power of a court. It also represents the authority of presiding officers; thus the expression "passing the gavel" signifies an orderly succession from one chair to another.
[edit] Proper use of a gavel
Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised provides guidelines on the proper use of the gavel in deliberative assemblies. For instance, the chair is never to use the gavel in an attempt to drown out a disorderly member;[2] rather, the chair should give one vigorous tap at a time at intervals.[1] The chair should not lean on the gavel, juggle or toy with it, or use it to challenge or threaten or to emphasize remarks.[1] The prohibited practice of a chair cutting off members' right to debate or introduce secondary motions by quickly putting a question to vote before any member can get the floor is referred to as "gaveling through" a measure.[3]
Demeter's Manual notes that, in addition to an optional light tap after a vote, there are three other uses of a gavel:[1]
- To attract attention and call a meeting to order. In most organizations, two raps raise and one rap seats the assembly; in others, two raps raise and three raps seats it.
- To maintain order and restore it when breached in the course of the proceedings. (Rap the gavel once, but vigorously.)
- To be handed over to successors in office or to officiating officers as ceremonials, etc. (Always extend the holding end.)
[edit] Historic gavels
A special gavel, made of solid ivory and held together since 1952 by silver caps, had been used by the United States Senate since that body's inception in 1789. In 1954, Vice President Richard Nixon, while acting as presiding officer of the Senate, splintered the gavel during a heated debate on nuclear energy. Unable to obtain a piece of ivory large enough to replace the gavel, the Senate appealed to the Indian embassy. On November 17, 1954 India presented the US with a solid ivory replica, which is still in use. In contrast, the gavel of the U.S. House of Representatives is plain and wooden; used more often and more forcefully in the reputedly unruly chamber, it has been broken and replaced many times.
