Areas of responsibility in the parliamentary estate

The responsibilities of the Serjeant at Arms apply to the House of Commons chamber, public galleries, committee rooms and the Commons' areas of the parliamentary estate.

Ceremonial duties

The Serjeant at Arms' ceremonial duties involves carrying the House of Commons mace during the Speaker's procession. This is when the Speaker and his staff walk to the House of Commons Chamber before each sitting. The Serjeant, or a deputy Serjeant, sits in the Commons Chamber and is responsible for order and access for the duration of the sitting. The Speaker can call upon them to escort people out. The Serjeant at Arms wears a traditional uniform and a sword.

History of the role

The office of Serjeant at Arms dates back to 1415 and the reign of Henry V when the Serjeant was responsible for carrying out the orders of the House of Commons, including making arrests. Today, the Serjeant at Arms performs ceremonial duties that date back to the early days of the office, for example the Serjeant is required to carry the mace in the Speaker's Procession each day and also into the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament.

Serjeant at Arms

Kamal El-Hajji is the Serjeant at Arms. Mr Mohammed Amal (Kamal) El-Hajji, began his role on 1st February 2016. Prior to this he was the Head of Front of House and VIP Relations at the Ministry of Justice since 2010.

                                     4. Black Rod

Black Rod is a senior officer in the House of Lords, responsible for controlling access to and maintaining order within the House and its precincts.

The Clerk of the Parliaments, to whom Black Rod reports, is in overall charge of the administration of the House, which provides all other services for Members of the Lords.

Black Rod's parliamentary duties fall into two categories: administrative and ceremonial.

Administrative duties

Black Rod's post consists of the following functions.

Lady or Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod

This is a Crown appointment. It is responsible for organising access to and maintaining order within the Lords Chamber and the precincts

Secretary to the Lord Great Chamberlain

Appointed by the Lord Great Chamberlain, Black Rod is responsible for and participates in the major ceremonial events in the Palace of Westminster.

Black Rod is also responsible for the Queen's residual estate in the Palace (eg the Robing Room and the Royal Gallery).

Ceremonial duties: State Opening

Black Rod's role at the State Opening of Parliament is one of the most well-known images of Parliament.

Black Rod is sent from the Lords Chamber to the Commons Chamber to summon MPs to hear the Queen's Speech. Traditionally the door of the Commons is slammed in Black Rod's face to symbolise the Commons independence.

He or she then bangs three times on the door with the rod. The door to the Commons Chamber is then opened and all MPs – talking loudly – follow Black Rod back to the Lords to hear the Queen's Speech.

Further information

Sarah Clarke was appointed as the new Black Rod on 17 November 2017. She formally took on the duties as Lady Usher of the Black Rod in February 2018.

https://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/black-rod/

VOCABULARY LIST 1

 

1) Coronation, abdication, to abdicate

To succeed to the throne

Knight, knighthood

 

2) legislative, executive, judicial branch

the Houses of Parliament, a Member of Parliament (MP)

the House of Lords, the Lords, the Lords Chamber, the Upper House

the House of Commons, the Commons, the Commons Chamber, the Lower House

 

3) hereditary peers, to inherit a title, peers by heredity; life peers, to make someone a life peer, to grant peerage

Lords Spiritual, bishops of the Church of England, Archbishop of Canterbury

The Law Lords (judges);

Lords Temporal

The Lord Chancellor, the Woolsack, the Mace, the Sergeant at Arms

 

4)The Speaker; to call to order

The State Opening of Parliament; session, sitting, question time

 

5)A legislative draft/bill; to introduce/bring in a bill, to debate a bill, to pass a bill, to defeat/reject a bill, to amend a bill; to submit a bill to

First, second, third reading

Unanimous consent

To give/receive Royal Assent; to enter into the Statute book

Aye lobby, No lobby, division, to call for a division

 

6) The Government, the Opposition, Shadow cabinet, Shadow minister

A front-bencher, a back-bencher

Maiden speech

 

7) President, acting president, lame duck

the Congress: the Senate, the House of Representatives

Commander-in-Chief

The Vice President, Senator, Congressman

 

8) To set and collect taxes, to regulate commerce, to coin and issue money, to declare war

System of Checks and Balances

 

9) Constitution: articles and amendments

Bill of Rights

Bicameral legislature

Two-party system, political rivalry

Party caucus

Majority/minority leader

 

10) President’s Cabinet

To resign, to choose/appoint the successor

Term in office

Assassination

 

 

VOCABULARY LIST 2

 

 1. Election to (Parliament); to elect smb to.../for a term of... general, universal, local, parliamentary, congressional, presidential, mid-term, nation-wide, primary, runoff election(s), by-election

to hold, schedule, call an election

 to fix/to rig an election; vote-rigging

to win/lose an election;

Whistle-stop tours

Popularity rating,

to sweep a state

 

2. election campaign; to run, launch, organize a campaign

the run-up to the election

election agent, canvassing, to conduct canvassing,

 a presidential bid/a bid for presidency

 

3. to nominate a candidate (for presidency), a nominee, to nominate smb as...; to put forward a candidate,

to stand for election /to run for (a post)

 

4. opinion poll/exit poll, to conduct,  to take a poll

to predict /forecast election results

pollster, respondent

a candidate's approval /popularity rating; a front runner

 

5. to vote; to vote Conservative, Labour, etc.

the right to vote/ suffrage

popular/electoral vote, to be entitled to vote

educational, residential, property, age qualification

to abstain/ stay away from the polls

to be up for election/ re-election

 

6. polling/election day; to go to the polls polling station/ booth; ballot box; to cast a ballot,

 voting turnout; heavy, big, light, poor turnout

heavy /light poll, invalid ballot paper to vote by proxy

 

7. constituency/ electoral district

one-member constituency;  

safe/ marginal seats (constituencies)

 

8. to win by a huge (small) margin(отрывом) of... seats

absolute/ overall/ clear majority /minority party

hung parliament; coalition parliament

 

9. electoral systems: a simple majority system; proportional representation (PR),

 

10. cabinet reshuffle; to resign/to quit,

resignation

lame duck/front runner/dark horse

 

11. election fever

to be eligible/ineligible for re-election

 

12. election campaign
campaign manager

the run-up to an election

to run (conduct, launch, organize) a campaign

election agent

to distribute publicity materials

leaflet, poster

election address

manifesto

to hold public meeting

campaign coverage

impartial coverage

 

13. opinion poll/exit poll
to conduct, take a poll
voting intentions
respondents
pollster

a candidate's popularity rating

a politician's approval rating

poll indications

to allow for the margin of error

 

14. to nominate a candidate (for presidency)
to nominate smb. as

to win / get the nomination

to put forward candidates to

 to stand for election

 to run for (a post)

 

15. to vote; to vote Conservative, Labour, etc.
the right to vote / franchise / suffrage
popular / electoral vote
to be eligible / ineligible to vote

to be entitled to vote

educational / residential / property / age qualification

to stay away from the polls

to abstain

to be up for election / re-election

 

16.to withdraw one's candidacy

 

17.voting turnout

heavy, big, large, light, poor turnout

heavy / light poll

to return smb. to (Parliament)

returns: early / final

political platform of a party / candidate

to campaign on a Socialist platform

to dissolve a Parliament

dissolution

to resign

a seat falls vacant

constituency / electoral district

 one-member constituency

to win / lose seats, votes; to finish with (300) seats

to hold a seat; to receive votes

Member of Parliament (MP)

 

18. first-past-the-post system

proportional representation (PR)

a simple majority system

to use a... system in selecting...

 

19. overall / absolute majority

a clear majority

to have (20) seats short of majority

a majority of (326) seats

to outpoll a party by (30) seats

to win by a huge (small) margin of (30) seats

a hung parliament

majority / minority party; a minor party

to cut a deal with (another party)

to get / push one's candidate through

to get one's candidate elected

to question the result (conduct) of an election

to present an election petition

to declare an election void

 

20. invalid ballot paper

to invalidate (spoil) a ballot paper

a fresh ballot paper

 

21. to mark a candidate (of your choice)

to pay a deposit

 to lose a deposit

polling day

polling station

ballot box

presiding officer

to have one's mane checked against the election register

returning officer

voting booth

the count of votes

poll watchers

 

22. postal ballot paper
proxy voting

to vote by proxy

to apply for a postal vote

 

23.the Bill of Reform

to extend the franchise to

'rotten boroughs'

 

24. a suffragette      

 

25. Board of Elections