Usher

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Usher have the function of looking after a hall. Their tasks often include setting up chairs, checking microphone systems, checking admission and looking after guests and conference participants. State organs in particular, such as parliaments or ministries, employ ushers who not only carry out the logistical tasks as such, but are also responsible for maintaining the organ's ceremonial dignity. In Switzerland, clerks and clerks are usually called Weibel .

Usher of the German Bundestag

Probably the most famous ushers in Germany are those of the German Bundestag . Organizationally, they are located in a sub-department (plenary and committee assistance service) in the Org.-Technical Parliamentary Service of Department Z ( Central Services ) in the Bundestag administration. They are led by a site manager and his plenary secretaries who, with the support of many plenary assistants, ensure that the plenary sessions are organized and run smoothly. The term usher is therefore a collective term for all these employees.

In their uniforms, the typical dark blue livery with gold buttons and federal eagles , they ensure that only those authorized in each case have access to the plenary hall or to meetings of working groups and parliamentary committees. During the meetings, the ushers ensure that the lectern is always at the right height and that a fresh glass of water is available for each speaker. They ring the bell before the start of the plenary session or when voting on the mutton jump , set the tape with the church bells on for the morning prayer and use a display to inform about the next items on the agenda. They also distribute the printed matter to the members of the Bundestag, check the entrances to the plenary hall and manage the attendance lists. Occasionally, they run errands for MPs and inform them of important calls.

Before the committee or plenary meetings, they check whether the microphone systems and, if applicable, transmission equipment for interpreters are working properly. If necessary, they ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out or defective devices are replaced. Hall servants also ensure that sufficient drinks are available for meetings of committees and working groups, for example.

When there is no session, the ushers have other tasks: They deal with tidying up, renovation work, small removals and are responsible for the flagging of the Bundestag properties.

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Usher of the European Parliament

Senior usher of the European Parliament at the constitution of the Parliament on July 2, 2019
The silver chain is part of the uniform of the ushers of the European Parliament

The European Parliament also employs ushers in its three seats in Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxembourg, who are responsible for the logistical organization of the Parliament. In 2005 the Parliament employed 121 ushers who, as civil servants, have to go through a special selection process. 30 of the 121 ushers are responsible for organizing the plenary sessions. The ushers belong to the larger group of servants in the European Parliament. The ushers are employed and coordinated by the European Parliament's Directorate-General for Logistics and Interpretation for Conferences (DG LINC). Originally only men were planned as hall and office servants, but the General Management now also allows women to perform this task.

In addition to controlling access to the plenary chamber, which only Members of Parliament, the Commission, the European Council and possibly guests are allowed to enter, the ushers are responsible for many different tasks. This includes, among other things, the allocation of seats for members of the public, setting up the lectern, and serving glasses of water to speakers. If necessary, ushers can also expel or escort members of parliament out of the room at the direction of the head of parliament .

All ushers in the European Parliament wear a tailored uniform consisting of a black tailcoat, dress shirt and white bow tie. In addition, they all wear a large chain with an emblem of the European Parliament. While the chain of the usher management is gold-plated, those of the other ushers are silver-plated.

Since the first chief of protocol of the European Parliament was of French origin, many characteristics of the clerks and officials of the European Parliament, for example the uniform, are of French origin. The term huissiers (from French huis for “door”) for the hall and official servants also comes from this.

Similar professions

literature

  • Michael F. Feldkamp and Dirk Kunze: With tails in parliament . Nomos, Baden-Baden 2009, ISBN 978-3-8329-3525-2 .
  • Karl Heinz Schmitt: In the service of the House 1949–1991. The site manager tells. Verlag Günther Neske, Stuttgart 1995, ISBN 3-7885-0504-4 .

Web links

Wiktionary: usher  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d People and offices in the European Parliament: the official servants. (pdf) Press Service of the European Parliament, 2005, accessed on 14 July 2019 .
  2. ↑ General Directorate for Logistics and Interpretation for Conferences. European Parliament, accessed on 14 July 2019 .
  3. ↑ Ingrid Steiner-Gashi: "We ushers are the figurehead of the EU Parliament". In: Kurier.at. August 18, 2018, accessed July 14, 2019 .
  4. ^ Susanne Henn: Man in tails - usher in the European Parliament. In: DW.com. Deutsche Welle, March 2, 2010, accessed on July 14, 2019 .