FEATURES Symbols of Authority James J. Connors, PRP

SymbolS.of Authority: The Gavel, Mace, and Fasces

By James J. Connors, PRP

When you picture the use of parliamentary procedure in the average town council meeting, state legislature, or U.S. Congress, what do you see? I would suggest that most people envision a presiding officer standing at a lectern holding a gavel. The gavel is probably the most widely recognized symbol of authority in meetings. However, it is by no means the only one. Three items have been associated with legislative authority throughout history: the gavel, the mace, and the fasces. But what is the history of these items and how are they used today?

Gavel

Webster’s dictionary defines gavel as “the mallet of the presiding officer...” Gavels have long been used by auctioneers, judges, elected officials, or presiding officers of organizations. The gavel is a symbol of the prerogatives of the presiding officer.1

Gavels in their present form and purpose may have their origins in the Masonic lodges in 18th century England.2 The first gavels resembled a mason’s setting maul with a long handle and bulbous end with a flat bottom used to set stones in mortar. However, the “true Masonic gavel” does not look like a regular gavel commonly used by judges or meetings chairs. The “common” or “true Masonic gavel” has a pointed gable shape on one end and a flat surface on the other end.3 The gavel is the symbol of power and authority. It is the duty of the officer wielding the gavel to use it wisely and with discretion that the affairs of the chapter may be conducted with dignity, decorum, and justice. The wise use of the gavel insures harmonious relationships among the members.4

The first gavel used in the U.S. Senate was quite different in shape. In The Mace and the Gavel: Symbols of

1 Lorraine Weatherly, “Protocol…It Makes a Difference,” National Parliamentarian 55, no. 3 (1994): 16-17. 2 George D. Glazer and Helen Glazer, “Gavel-to-Gavel: A Brief History of the Gavel in

Decorative Arts,” (2007). http://georgeglazer.com/decarts/objects/gavels/aboutgavels.html 3 The Grand Lodge of Texas, “The Common Gavel.” http://themasonictrowel.com/Articles/ degrees/degree_1st_files/the_common_gavel_gltx.htm 4 Billye M. Peeples, “The Gavel,” http://thgephylaxis.org/phyllis/gavel.php

Original and Indian ivory gavels.

Government in America, Bedini wrote that, “Consisting of a simple block of solid ivory turned somewhat in the shape of a time glass, the Senate “gavel” functions more in the nature of a knocker to bring the body to attention.”5 The history of the Senate gavel is unclear. Legend has it that it was used by John Adams to call the Senate to order in 1789. However, it may have been Thomas Jefferson who first used the ivory gavel when he presided over the Senate. By the 1950s this gavel started to fall apart and had metal plates attached to both ends. In 1954 the government of India presented Vice President Richard Nixon with a new ivory gavel.

Today, both the original and new hourglass shaped ivory gavels are kept in a locked wooden box held by the Sergeant-at arms.6

No matter if it is a local garden club president or the President of the United States Senate, chairmen still use the gavel as a symbol of leadership, authority, and impartiality over the business of the assembly.

Mace

Another historic symbol of authority is the mace. A mace is an ornamental staff, borne as a symbol of authority before a public official or legislative body. Maces have been used throughout history as a symbol of authority in cities, state legislatures, and parliaments. While the American Institute of Parliamentarians™ (AIP) has a gavel on its symbol, the National Association of Parliamentarians®, as everyone knows, uses a mace as its symbol.

Probably the most well-known mace in existence is the one used in the British House of Commons. This symbol of authority of the Speaker was made in 1649 and is often seen on the center table in the House of Commons during deliberations. Controversy arose in 2018 during debate on Brexit (Britain leaving the European Union) when a conservative Member of Parliament (MP) approached the table, grabbed the mace, and proceeded to leave the chamber. He was quickly admonished by the Speaker and expelled from the chamber for the remainder of the day’s deliberations.7

5 Silvio A. Bedini, “The Mace and the Gavel: Symbols of Government in America,” Transactions of the American Philosophical Society 87, part 4 (1997). 6 United States Senate, “The Senate’s New Gavel.” http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/ history/minute/The_Senates_New_Gavel.htm 7 Alan Yuhas, “A member of Britain’s Parliament Seized the Ceremonial Mace, and Confusion

Reigned.” New York Times, December 10, 2018, http://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/10/ world/europe/ceremonial-mace-britain-parliament.html

One of the oldest the Province of Ontario, the city of maces in the United Galway, Ireland, and the U.S. Marine States is the Mace of Corps Band all use a mace as a symbol Norfolk. The city of of their authority. Norfolk has used the mace since before the Fasces United States even Probably the least existed and Virginia well-known symbol was one of the 13 of authority is the original Colonies.8 If you ever have the chance to watch the proceedings of the U.S. House of Representatives, you fasces. A fasces is a bundle of rods and among them an ax with projecting blade, borne before ancient Roman magistrates as a badge of authority. The bundle of rods is often depicted bound by leather thongs. will see the historic The staff of the U.S. House of Mace standing to the Representatives’ mace is very similar right of the Speaker’s to the bundle of rods used in a fasces. chair. The first mace The fasces was a symbol of power was used by the and the executive authority of House in 1789. Roman leaders. That original mace While it may not be obvious to was destroyed the average observer, the fasces is when the British Mace of the city very prominent in U.S. government burned the Capitol of Norfolk, VA. buildings and monuments. Within on August 24, 1814. The current mace the U.S. House of Representatives’ was first used in 1841.9 In addition chamber, two fasces are located on to the mace, the Speaker of the House either side of the Speaker’s chair and also uses a large gavel that is handed immediately behind the mace. When down whenever the majority party visiting Washington, DC, take a good changes, and a new Speaker look at the Lincoln Memorial. Fasces is installed. adorn the steps leading up to the

Maces have been used by numerous monument. The 13 rods represent the bodies for centuries. Cities, states, 13 original colonies. Just as the rods countries, universities, and even are stronger when bound together, the marching band drum majors used 13 colonies were stronger when joined maces as symbols of authority. The together as the United States of Canadian Senate, the Parliament of America. Once inside the monument,

8 Mrs. Donald D. Funk, “Norfolk’s Historic Mace,” National Parliamentarian 21, no. 2 (1960): 10-12. 9 Zeake W. Johnson, “The Use of the Mace,” National Parliamentarian 18, no. 1 (1957): 3-4.

the observer will notice that both arms of Lincoln’s chair are actually fasces without the protruding ax head. On the side walls, both Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address are adorned with the fasces without the ax blade. Fasces are also included on the official seal of the U.S. Senate and on the George Washington statue by Jean-Antoine Houdon that is in the Virginia State Capitol.10

Unlike the gavel and the mace, fasces are not seen as often outside of the federal government in Washington, DC. This might be due to the fact that many people associate fasces with fascism. Fasces is the root word for fascism, a political ideology marked by nationalism, totalitarianism, and most associated with the Nazi party in Germany during World War II.

Conclusion

The gavel, mace, and fasces are three very different and unique symbols of authority and leadership. It is no surprise that they are often associated with power, strength, authority, and leadership. As parliamentarians it is important that we recognize these symbols, their history, and understand the meaning behind the symbol. NP

10 National Park Service, “Secret Symbol of the Lincoln Memorial,” https://www.nps.gov/nama/ blogs/secret-symbol-of-the-lincoln-memorial.htm

James (Jim) J. Connors, PhD, PRP, has been a member of NAP since 1995. He has taught parliamentary procedure skills to youth and adults for over 35 years. He served as the Superintendent of the National FFA Parliamentary Procedure Leadership Development event for 15 years. He has worked with youth organizations across the country on their parliamentary procedure competitive events. He currently teaches a Developing Collegiate and Community Organizations class at the University of Idaho, and has served as a parliamentarian for numerous local, state, and national organizations.