Black Rod
The Black Rod or, to be more precisely, the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod is an official in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. He performs various official and ceremonial duties; famously, he summons the members of the House of Commons to the Queen's Speech (or King's Speech) during the State Opening of Parliament.
History
The title “Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod” exists since the times of Henry VIII. Shortly after the Order of the Garter was founded, a King’s Letters Patent says that one of the Order’s officers should bear their symbol, a black rod with a golden lion on the top, in official processions of the Order in St. George’s Chapel and Windsor Castle. The chosen officer should be an experienced and honourable member of the troops. Since the Constitution of the Order of the Garter in 1522 (the Garter Statue ), Back Rod’s main function, apart from the ceremonial bearing of the rod, was to be the doorkeeper at meetings of the Order and the Parliament, to keep all secrets inside. In 1726 Black Rod’s parliamentary duties were summarized. They included:
- Constant attendance on the House of Lords
- The carrying of the King’s/Queen’s commands to the Commons to attend him in the House of Lords
- Participation in the ceremony of introducing lords into the House
- Employment at the order of the House concerning the commitment of delinquents
These rules and rights were modified in 1876 when most of the duties were transferred to the Lord Great Chamberlain’s field of functions. Only two of Black Rod’s main functions remained: the roles of the doorkeeper and the messenger between the Houses.
Ceremonial Duties Today
The probably most well-known ceremonial functions of Black Rod today is his attendance at the State Opening of Parliament. During the ceremony he is instructed to walk from the Chamber of Lords to the Chamber of Commons to summon the MPs to follow the Queen’s Speech at the Chamber of the Lords.
As a remnant of history the door of the Chamber of Commons is slammed to his face when he tries to walk in. This derives from an incident in 1641 when Black Rod is said to have entered the Commons without his rod and before he was officially called in. Since then the door is slammed and Black Rod has to knock three times with his rod till the door is opened and he is allowed to enter. Black Rod then respectfully asks the MPs to follow him to the House of Lords.
All that is also said to symbolise the independence of the House of Commons from theHouse of Lords.
Video footage of the 2010’s ceremony: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dvoj1QP1HSQ
Sources
http://www.explore-parliament.net/nssMovies/09/0941/0941_.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/guides/newsid_81000/81909.stm
http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/black-rod/