10 Major Facts Behind 'Tradition Of Taking A Bow'

The tradition of taking a bow during ministerial screening dates back to early times. The custom has been so since the time of Roman empire. People come to the coliseum (a semi-circular open large sitting structure) and bow before the Emperor.

Inside the senate during ministerial screening

The purpose of taking a bow is to show respect for the control the Emperors wields then. It is an age long ritual. It started way back in ancient times in Roman-Greek empires. There was an open stage where people come to take a bow infront of the Emperor.
The United States came up with the presidential system of government led by the first president George Washington. The need for a legislative arm of government was mooted around that time.
The importance of an assembly where issues about the challenges of the country would be discussed was put into consideration. This idea led to the first assembly in 1789 of people elected  from their  district areas called senators.
They also brought about the need to have a symbol known as the maze. They suggested that the maze must be adored by anyone who comes to senate.
The senate in the US has a historical background of 226 years. It was the upper house of the United States Congress, with a mention in the constitution of 1787.
Ministerial nominees are compulsorily made to take a bow for some of these major reasons:

1. Maze as a symbol of authority

The maze is the symbol of power of the senate. No one comes to seek approval for anything in the senate without standing in front of the maze to take a bow. No person is allowed to go without first standing to take a bow.

2. Submission to the might of the senate

Even if a ministerial nominee has an issue with any of the senators, he cannot just come into the senate assembly and leave afterwards without the tradition of taking a bow.

3. Oath of allegiance by the ministers to be

This ritual also shows how the minister to be will sincerely serve the nation if he becomes a minister. It shows his dedication towards the nation

4. Historical ritual

A very old tradition which has not been wiped out. All democracies that practise presidential system of government make use of the maze.

5. The Senate president as the all in all

It is not only the maze that is bowed to. The ministerial nominee will not be confirmed unless he shows so much respect to the Senate president. As he bows to the maze, invariably, he is bowing to the Senate president who sits behind the maze during the screening process.

6. A message to the nation’s president

The upper chambers establish their importance to the nation’s government. The pass a message to the nation’s number one man that he cannot have his way all the time without their input. They can decide to clear or not to clear the ministerial nominee.

7. Superiority of the senators over the members of the House of Representatives

Taking a bow is not done in the House of Representatives.  This shows that the senators are superior of the two chambers of the national assembly

8. Assessment of nominees character

For instance, a ministerial nominee who has petitions against will not be to come to the senate to talk of being allowed to take a bow.

9. Importance of the upper chambers

The upper chambers is the first point of call for anything done by the legislators.

10. Significance of the opposition party

Even if a ministerial belongs to the ruling party as it is often the case, he still has to take a bow in front of senators who belong to the opposition party. As a ministerial nominee takes a bow in front of senators of the All Progressives Congress which is the governing party, he has to also take a bow in front of senators of the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party.