A serjeant-at-arms or sergeant-at-arms is an officer appointed by a deliberative body, usually a legislature, to keep order during its meetings. The word "serjeant" is derived from the Latin serviens, which means "servant". Historically, serjeants-at-arms were armed men retained by English lords and monarchs, and the ceremonial maces which they are associated with were originally a type of weapon.
A ceremonial mace (English, 17th century) as carried by the monarch's sergeants-at-arms on state occasions.
Portrait of Chancy Brown, an early sergeant-at-arms for the Senate of Liberia (made by Augustus Washington)
Serjeant-at-arms Group Captain A J Manson (with mace) in attendance at the opening of the New Zealand Parliament in 1950
The Mace of Singapore placed on the stand during session
A ceremonial mace is a highly ornamented staff of metal or wood, carried before a sovereign or other high officials in civic ceremonies by a mace-bearer, intended to represent the official's authority. The mace, as used today, derives from the original mace used as a weapon. Processions often feature maces, as on parliamentary or formal academic occasions.
Ceremonial mace of the Queensland Parliament, Australia
Ceremonial mace (left hand) depicted on a stela from Nimrud
French ceremonial mace, 18th century
Mace of the City of London