On Black Tuesday, which symbols were thrown out of the House of Assembly?

• A. The Gavel and the Crown
• B. The Seal and the Banner
• C. The Speaker's Mace and the Hour Glass
• D. The Constitution Scroll

Answer: (C)

Symbols that carry authority in a parliament show who leads, how debates are kept in order, and when time runs out. On Black Tuesday, removing the Speaker’s Mace and the Hour Glass from the House instantly signals a breakdown of that order. The mace is the vivid emblem of the Speaker’s authority to command the chamber and regulate proceedings; taking it away means the usual leadership and discipline of the House are being challenged or discarded. The hour glass represents the timing of debates and the limits on speaking time—essential for keeping business moving smoothly. When both are removed, it conveys that time and rules no longer guide the proceedings, highlighting a dramatic disruption of governance.

Other symbols don’t convey this specific breakdown in the same way. A gavel and the crown mix traditions and don’t directly depict the act of stripping the chamber of its procedural authority in this context. The seal and the banner are important insignia, but they don’t illustrate the immediate control and management of debate and time. The Constitution Scroll points to the governing charter, but the moment described emphasizes who enforces rules and how time is managed, not the document itself.