mace of the House of Representatives

The symbol of authority of the House sergeant at arms is a 46-inch silver mace decorated with lashed rods and axes that are topped by a flying eagle. The House first adopted a mace, modeled after the mace of ancient Roman officials, in 1789. At the beginning of each day's session of the House, an assistant sergeant at arms brings the mace from its cabinet and sets it to the right of the Speaker's chair. There the mace stands upright on a marble pedestal for as long as the House remains in session. During moments of extreme turmoil in the House, the sergeant at arms will hold up the mace to restore order in the chamber. The Senate does not use a mace, but the symbol of the mace appears frequently in the decoration around the Senate and House chambers and office buildings.

See also Sergeant at arms