As the Senate’s chief administrative officer, the Clerk of the Senate manages the Senate’s day-to-day operation. The Clerk also supports all aspects of the legislative process, from the swearing-in of new Senators to advising the Speaker on parliamentary procedure and interpretation of the rules. As Clerk of the Parliaments, the Clerk is custodian of all original Acts and is responsible for certifying true copies of these Acts.

Originally a member of the royal household and then a parliamentary messenger, the Usher of the Black Rod continues to act as a messenger. It is the Black Rod who informs Members of the House of Commons that they are summoned to the Senate to hear the Speech from the Throne that opens every session of Parliament or to witness the Royal Assent that enacts bills adopted by Parliament into law. The title of the position comes from the ebony stick carried by the Black Rod, which is used to knock on the doors of the House of Commons Chamber to gain admission into that Chamber.

Upon the appointment of the first woman to the position of "Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod" on October 20, 1997, the Senate proposed that the title be changed to "Usher of the Black Rod" (Senate Journals, November 6, 1997).

The office of the Senate Ethics Officer (SEO) was created in 2004 by amendments to the Parliament of Canada Act.

The Senate Ethics Officer is appointed by the Governor in Council, after consultation with the leaders of the ecognized parties in the Senate and a confirming vote in the chamber. The Officer holds the position for a term of seven years and may be removed only by the Governor in Council following an address of the Senate, and only for cause. He or he may be reappointed for subsequent terms of up to seven years.

The statute provides that the SEO is to perform the duties and functions assigned by the Senate for governing the onduct of members of the Senate. Thus, the SEO is responsible for administering the Conflict of Interest Code for Senators, in collaboration with the Standing Senate Committee on Conflict of Interest for Senators.