The gavel is a ceremonial hammer used in court proceedings and parliamentary procedures, symbolizing power and authority. Its origins can be traced back to medieval England and likely developed independently in other cultures. It is used by judges to open and adjourn court, restore order during confusion, and tidy up a courtroom. It is also used in auctions and private organizations with governing bodies.
A gavel is a small ceremonial hammer traditionally used in both court proceedings and parliamentary procedures. Traditionally made from hardwood, its use can mean a number of things depending on the environment it is being used in. No matter the situation, the gavel is a symbol of power, the implications being that the person using it has the ultimate authority.
It is difficult to determine when this type of hammer came into use. The Western world can trace the modern gavel back to medieval England. It is likely, however, to have developed independently in many cultures hundreds of years earlier, most likely a stone that was banged against a table or other object to attract the attention of a group. As the law and governments developed, the gavel evolved into the instrument used today in courtrooms and decision-making bodies around the world.
During a trial or other legal proceeding, a judge will use a gavel to both open and adjourn the court. For example, even though a judge may declare a stay of only ten minutes for a jury trial, he still bangs his gavel to indicate that the court is temporarily adjourned. The judge uses it again at the end of the interval to indicate that the court is back in session. Once the jury has returned a verdict, the judge strikes his gavel one last time to indicate that the trial is over. In addition to these official uses, it is a convenient tool for tidying up a messy courtroom.
The gavel plays a similar role in a parliamentary body. As in the classroom, tapping it once tidies up the meeting. Also, a single hard blow is a signal to restore order during a breakdown in procedure or other confusion. A unique feature of a parliamentary gavel is that its status as a symbol of power is as important, if not more so, than its role during proceedings. For example, if power changes hands after an election, the parliamentary body will generally hold a ceremony where the gavel is handed over to the government’s new legislative leaders.
Outside of the rule of law, the gavel is also used in less formal meetings. The most common is an auction. The banging of an auctioneer’s gavel indicates the final sale of an item at auction. Many private organizations with governing bodies also use hammers in ways similar to a parliament.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
