Title 2The CongressRelease 119-73

§5604 Duties of Sergeant at Arms

Title 2 › Chapter CHAPTER 55— - HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OFFICERS AND ADMINISTRATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VIII— - SERGEANT AT ARMS › § 5604

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Sergeant at Arms must attend House sittings, keep order under the Speaker, carry out House orders, and until a Speaker or pro tempore is chosen, follow the Clerk.

Full Legal Text

Title 2, §5604

The Congress — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

It shall be the duty of the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives to attend the House during its sittings, to maintain order under the direction of the Speaker, and, pending the election of a Speaker or Speaker pro tempore, under the direction of the Clerk, execute the commands of the House and all processes issued by authority thereof, directed to him by the Speaker.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 78 of this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–186 struck out “, keep the accounts for the pay and mileage of Members and Delegates, and pay them as provided by law” after “directed to him by the Speaker”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

Effective Feb. 1, 2010, functions of House of Representatives Office of Emergency Planning, Preparedness, and Operations transferred to Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives, see section 105 of title I of div. G of Pub. L. 112–74, set out as a note under former section 130i of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

2 U.S.C. § 5604

Title 2The Congress

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73