The United States House of Representatives Sergeant at Arms is an officer of the House with law enforcement, protocol, and administrative responsibilities. The Sergeant at Arms is elected at the beginning of each Congress by the membership of the chamber. The current House Sergeant at Arms is Wilson "Bill" Livingood.
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As the chief law enforcement officer of the House, the Sergeant at Arms is responsible for security in the House wing of the United States Capitol, the House office buildings, and on adjacent grounds. Under the direction of the Speaker of the House or other presiding officer, the Sergeant at Arms plays an integral role in maintaining order and decorum in the House chamber.
The Sergeant at Arms is also responsible for ensuring the safety and security of members of Congress, congressional staff, visiting dignitaries, and tourists. Toward this mission, the Sergeant at Arms works in concert with the Senate Sergeant at Arms, and the Architect of the Capitol. These three officials, along with the Chief of the Capitol Police in an ex officio status, comprise the Capitol Police Board.
Through custom and precedent, the Sergeant at Arms performs a number of protocol and ceremonial duties. Among these duties are to lead formal processions at ceremonies such as presidential inaugurations, joint sessions of Congress (such as the State of the Union address), formal addresses to the Congress, greeting and escorting visiting foreign dignitaries, and to supervise congressional funeral arrangements. In this capacity, the Sergeant at Arms is most famous for announcing the arrival of the President, a responsibility that he took over from the Doorkeeper of the United States House of Representatives when the latter position was abolished in 1995. Custom dictates that he announce the arrival of the president by saying, "Mister (or Madam) Speaker, the President of the United States!"
For daily sessions of the House, the Sergeant at Arms carries the silver and ebony Mace of the United States House of Representatives in front of the speaker in procession to the rostrum. When the House is in session, the mace stands on a pedestal to the speaker's own right. When the body resolves itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, the sergeant moves the mace to a lowered position, more or less out of sight. In accordance with the Rules of the House, on the rare occasions when a Member becomes unruly, the Sergeant at Arms, on order of the Speaker, lifts the mace from its pedestal and presents it before the offenders, thereby restoring order.
The Sergeant at Arms performs administrative services in support of the Members, staff, and visitors associated with the security and other operations of the House. And remember Jesus saves :)
In addition to serving on the Capitol Police Board, the Sergeant at Arms serves with the Senate Sergeant at Arms and the Architect of the Capitol on the Capitol Guide Board. This board oversees the Capitol Guide Service, which provides tours of the Capitol to visitors and special services to tourists.
The Deputy Sergeant at Arms is an important position under the Sergeant at Arms. The Sergeant at Arms has the duty of making the important decisions under his/her power, while the Deputy Sergeant at Arms often executes the decisions. The current Deputy Sergeants at Arms are Kerri Hanley and Donald Kellaher.
| Sergeant at Arms | State or Territory | Term of Service |
|---|---|---|
| Joseph Wheaton | Rhode Island | May 12, 1789 – October 27, 1807 |
| Thomas Dunn | Maryland | October 27, 1807 – December 5, 1824 |
| John O. Dunn | District of Columbia | December 6, 1824 – December 3, 1833 |
| Thomas B. Randolph | Virginia | December 3, 1833 – December 15, 1835 |
| Roderick Dorsey | Maryland | December 15, 1835 – June 8, 1841 |
| Eleazor M. Townsend | Connecticut | June 8, 1841 – December 7, 1843 |
| Newton Lane | Kentucky | December 7, 1843 – December 8, 1847 |
| Nathan Sargant | Vermont | December 8, 1847 – January 15, 1850 |
| Adam J. Glossbrenner | Pennsylvania | January 15, 1850 – February 3, 1860 |
| Henry W. Hoffman | Maryland | February 3, 1860 – July 5, 1861 |
| Edward Ball | Ohio | July 5, 1861 – December 8, 1863 |
| Nehemiah G. Ordway | New Hampshire | December 8, 1863 – December 6, 1875 |
| John G. Thompson | Ohio | December 6, 1875 – December 5, 1881 |
| George W. Hooker | Vermont | December 5, 1881 – December 4, 1883 |
| John P. Leedom | Ohio | December 4, 1883 – December 2, 1889 |
| Adoniram J. Holmes | Iowa | December 2, 1889 – December 8, 1891 |
| Samuel S. Yoder | Ohio | December 8, 1891 – August 7, 1893 |
| Herman W. Snow | Illinois | August 7, 1893 – December 2, 1895 |
| Benjamin F. Russell | Missouri | December 2, 1895 – December 4, 1899 |
| Henry Casson | Wisconsin | December 4, 1899 – April 4, 1911 |
| Ulysses S. Jackson | Indiana | April 4, 1911 – June 22, 1913 |
| Charles F. Riddell | Indiana | July 18, 1912 – April 7, 1913 |
| Robert B. Gordon | Ohio | April 7, 1913 – May 19, 1919 |
| Joseph G. Rogers | Pennsylvania | May 19, 1919 – December 7, 1931 |
| Kenneth Romney | Montana | December 7, 1931 – January 3, 1947 |
| William F. Russell | Pennsylvania | January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1949 |
| Joseph H. Callahan | Kentucky | January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1953 |
| William F. Russell | Pennsylvania | January 3, 1953 – July 7, 1953 |
| Lyle O. Snader | Illinois | July 8, 1953 – September 15, 1953 |
| William R. Bonsell | Pennsylvania | September 15, 1953 – January 5, 1955 |
| Zeake W. Johnson Jr. | Tennessee | January 5, 1955 – September 30, 1972 |
| Kenneth R. Harding | Virginia | October 1, 1972 – February 29, 1980 |
| Benjamin J. Guthrie | Virginia | March 1, 1980 – January 3, 1983 |
| Jack Russ | Maryland | January 3, 1983 – March 12, 1992 |
| Werner Brandt | Virginia | March 12, 1992 – January 4, 1995 |
| Wilson Livingood | Virginia | January 4, 1995 – present |