The Assembly Sergeant-at-Arms position was established at the first meeting of the California State Assembly on December 15, 1849. House Speaker Thomas J. White appointed Samuel N. Houston as the first Chief Sergeant-at-Arms. The Assembly Chamber is modeled after the House of Commons of the British Parliament. It features a multitude of green overtones outlined in a brass alloy. The motto of the Assembly is prominently displayed in Latin above the chambers.
The duties of the Sergeant-at-Arms have expanded greatly since that era; however, the primary responsibility of providing security for the Members of the State Assembly remains the same. The Chief Sergeant-at-Arms is an officer of the Assembly with law enforcement, protocol, and administrative responsibilities (Assembly House Rule 33).