07/09/2022
The Parliamentary Mace
A thread 🧵
“Symbols are the language of something invisible spoken in the visible world”. Signs and symbols
have become ubiquitous in our modern lives.
Their simplified vernacular has all but receded from
our awareness in many circumstances, merging with our subconscious as we navigate through
day-to-day life. Modern symbols are transcendent, transcultural, and transmedia.
Symbols have
many purposes, most of which can be distilled down into three overarching categories- to
identify, describe or create value.
Most people know of parliament to be a legislative body of Government, which generally
represent the electorate, makes laws and oversee the government via bearings and inquiries.
Just as people functions of a parliament, they do not know symbols and interpretations of
parliament such as the Mace.
The Mace symbolizes Parliament’s Authority. It is entrusted to the Speaker.
The daily Speaker’s
procession into the Chamber is led by the Marshall with the Mace signifying the ceremonial
opening of each Sitting day in the House.
The Marshall carries the Mace on his right shoulder and then places it in a special holder in front
of the Clerk’s Table where it remains throughout the Sitting as a symbol of authority of
Parliament.
When the Speaker is in the Chair, the Mace stands upright or perpendicular indicating the formal
proceedings in the House. However, during the consideration stage of a Bill, the Mace is titled
towards the Chair indicating the informal nature of the proceedings.
At this stage, the rules of
debate is relaxed and Members can speak more than once to any question from the Chair, At
the State Opening of Parliament, the President and Parliament come together to fulfil a
constitutional function.
On that occasion, during the presence of the President in the House the State Sword usually
regarded as the symbol of authority of the President, takes the place of the Mace.
Written by
Paulinus "Katakyie" Tantalima
(Minority Leader)
