House Sergeant at Arms: Legislative and Administrative Duties (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised Jan. 18, 2013 |
| Report Number |
98-835 |
| Authors |
Jacob R. Straus, Analyst on the Congress; Lorraine H. Tong, Analyst in American National Government |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
The Sergeant at Arms is an elected officer of the House of Representatives, nominated at thebeginning of each Congress by the House majority leadership, and elected by the Housemembership. The Sergeant at Arms has law enforcement, protocol, and administrativeresponsibilities within the House. Initially established during the First Congress (1789-1791), the duties of the Sergeant at Arms are mandated in law, House rules, custom, and oversight by theHouse Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on House Administration in the exerciseof their oversight roles. Additionally, the Sergeant at Arms' portfolio complements the legislativeand administrative operations of the Clerk of the House and the administrative functions of theChief Administrative Officer. On December 1, 2011, Speaker of the House John Boehner announced that long-time Sergeant atArms Wilson "Bill" Livingood would retire in January 2012. This report will be updated as thesituation merits to reflect the appointment or election of a new Sergeant at Arms in early 2012.
