Another early example is the fasces (a bound bundle of rods) carried by guards ("lictors") who accompanied high-level officials in the Roman Republic and later Empire.

Black Rod is formally appointed by the Crown based on a recruitment search performed by the Clerk of the Parliaments, who is the employer of all House of Lords officials.

Black Rod also arrests any Lord guilty of breach of privilege or other Parliamentary offence, such as contempt or disorder, or the disturbance of the House's proceedings.

[citation needed] Black Rod is best known for their part in the ceremonies surrounding the State Opening of Parliament and the Speech from the throne.

As part of the ritual, the doors to the chamber of the House of Commons are slammed in the approaching Black Rod's face.

Black Rod then strikes the door three times with their staff, and is then admitted and issues the summons of the monarch to attend.

The following is a list of Serjeants-at-Arms of the House of Lords since 1660: Since 1971 the office of Serjeant at Arms has been held by the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod.

As in the United Kingdom, Black Rods in other parliaments are responsible for arresting any senator or intruder who disrupts the proceedings.

The provincial legislatures of Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Alberta, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island have also incorporated the position of the Black Rods into their respective parliamentary systems.

[28] In the Cook Islands the Usher of the Black Rod is the messenger of the King's Representative at the ceremonial opening of parliament.

The black rod was designed by Tangata Vainerere, the clerk of the Cook Islands parliament, and carved by Wireless Tomokino.

[30] In New Zealand, where the Legislative Council was abolished in 1951, the Usher of the Black Rod continues to summon MPs to the chamber for the Throne Speech.

[35] Alexander John Mackay Manson was appointed in May 1965 to succeed Seal in time for the opening of the second term of the 34th New Zealand Parliament later that month.

[48][49][50] The ceremonial black rod was presented to Parliament by Governor-General Charles Bathurst, 1st Viscount Bledisloe in January, 1931.

Made of polished black ebony, it is topped by a golden lion rampant holding a shield bearing the royal cypher of King George V and has a 1931 gold sovereign set in its base.

When the Senate was restored in 1994 the renamed position of Usher of the Black Rod returned with it, continuing in the new National Council of Provinces.