Final answer:
A gavel is the small mallet used to call a meeting to order by a chairperson or judge to maintain authority and order during proceedings.
Step-by-step explanation:
To call a meeting to order, you would need a gavel, which is a small mallet used by a person presiding over a meeting, such as a judge or the chair of an assembly, to draw attention, signal order, and mark the beginning and end of proceedings. This item is commonly associated with authority within various official gatherings. A gavel would be utilized to bring the participants to attention, to punctuate rulings and proclamations, and often to seal the formal start and end of the event.