CANADA HISTORY - Politics-Symbols

The Mace

The mace was originally a weapon used during combat in the age of knights. The head would have sharp deadly blades attached so when the possessor of the weapon swung it would come down with deadly force and crush and cut the victims exposed body part. As Parliament evolved and the ceremony of the entrance of the King or Queen developed, a guard of the monarch would carry a mace for protection while none other was supposed to carry a weapon.

In Canada today, the mace is a representation of the authority of the Monarch and their power in the House of Commons and the Senate. Upon the opening of a session of the House or Senate, the speaker enters the chamber, followed by the sergeant at arms who is carrying the mace and places it on the table in from of the speaker’s chair. The mace will remain there as long as the chamber is in session and at the end of the session, the mace is removed.

When the Governor General visits the House to give the speech from the throne, the mace is draped with a velvet cloth to hid it from view. If it is a newly elected Parliament the mace is removed from the table until a speaker is elected. The mace is hen placed on the table to signify that the House is now complete.