The inner quorum of the federal government, which meets in the Long Room on Huwdone House's first floor, generally on a weekly basis. The Privy Council has formal power in two areas: to sanction certain extra-ordinary federal actions (e.g. a declaration of war) and to act as a final court of appeal for disputed legal trials. More importantly it is a chance for the Chancellor to draw initiatives and policies, listen to other viewpoints, and, finally, submit bills to Parliament; though these still have to be passed, they are given a priority hearing, and carry the extra weight of Highest Office. Membership of the Council thus carries a great deal of power; members can push their own initiatives though it, as well as arguing or refining the Chancellor's motions. It is, though, ultimately a tool of the Chancellor, who has the final say over any bills drawn up, and no compulsion to submit them to the vote at this stage. Likewise, the personnel who compose the Council is entirely at the Chancellor's discretion, as is the length of their time (although anyone can refuse membership initially). A shrewd Chancellor like Chela Tatel will use Privy Council membership not only as a reward to some key supporters, but also as an olive branch to dangerous opponents and a means of reconciling different interest group through the status membership grants. A happy by-product of this is that serious blow-ups between senior figures can be gotten out of the way behind the Long Room's closed doors (all meetings are held in private) rather than in the public glare of Parliament. A Chancellor is obliged by law to form a Privy Council, composed of at least six members; these six are called the Principal Members, though distinctions between these and the additional members are purely honorific (as are the titles that go with them). Tatel has nine additional seats on the Council, making the membership sixteen including herself.
Principal Members
Chairman: Chancellor Chela Tatel
Shield Holder: Lord Holan Brightson. Tatel's right-hand man, of course, with an influence far beyond Council meetings. He generally acts as a de facto chairman of the meetings, Tatel preferring to sit back, listen and make occasional interjections. Brightson's politics are cautious and conservative but sees himself as an administrator not an idealist, and his main points concern how things can be achieve. Dislikes Molan Grist because he regards him as incompetent, and has spent the decade patiently building an alliance with Allark Liarno.
Key Holder: Ferent Tannerz - First Friar of the Dorlafan Branch of the Church of Dorlaf, the usual token ecclesiastical presence amongst the Principal Members. From a different branch of the ubiquitous Tannerz clan to Sebsen, the Baron of Kratz, Ferent first joined the Privy Council in 1221 and refuses to budge. He is staunchly conservative, deeply pompous, an impressive orator and a political incompetent. Tatel only puts up with him because his low attendance rate at the meetings means he doesn't do too much damage.
Staff Holder: Lord Holstace Fortraine. Baron-Electors of Dorlaf tend to be Principal Members almost by right, but as one of the props shearing the Tatel administration, Fortraine has earned his place. Staunchly right wing and a personal loather of Molan Grist, though tries to avoid being caught up in slanging matches (unlike Brightson, who usually can't resist).
Keeper of Archives: Allark Liarno. The rapid career rise of the one-time radical lawyer, named in Tatel's Privy Council, continued in 1333 when he was made a Principal Member following the sudden death of the then incumbent, Marcas Lindell.
Chief Steward: Sir Elak Griegson. The Chairman of Jalkin Council, left-leaning and sardonically gloomy, sides with Grist though not through any personal loyalty. (see file)
Gate Warden: Lady Kael Arlint. (see file)
Ordinary Members
Sir Molan Grist - also named in Tatel's first Council, in the old tactic of appeasing your enemies. Grist continues to be a major thorn in the Chancellor's side and the key voice of left-wing dissent, though less effective than he hoped and increasingly drawn into points-scoring matches with Lord Brightson.
Sir Tomas Vinter - Emissary for Hattersdale (Kratz), son in law of Rudanc Masters and cousin of Ferent Tannerz; also a deputy head of Federation Office. Vinter, Lord Fortraine, Hellender Resllich and Elak Griegson tend to be the four who help influence and inform internal government policy, especially on financial matters, investment and security. Vinter is by some margin the least gifted of the four but has a sense of duty and an ability to avoid danger which has held him in good stead. A conservative, experienced politician, he has some financial awareness and a good standing at the Mayering Rooms. Vinter was appointed to the Privy Council basically as reward for mobilising support in the Kratzan regional assembly for Tatel's contentious 1332 tax levels.
Ses Armore - Tatel's silver-tounged orator, Emissary for Garniss Forest (w. Kratz) and political lightweight.
Sir Jerez Esterson - Emissary for the Shantern Uplands (n.e. Zabrial). Former Golden Boy, a highly flash orator who swept into power during the 1200's and was taken under Brightson's wing - as well as a Privy Council post Esterson was made Ambassadors Office chief. Since then Esterson failed to live up to any of his promises, staggered from one crises after another and is very firmly in Grist's crosshairs. He still heads Ambassadors Office, though his sacking is one of the most widely expected events of 1334.
Lord Oldaran Bryano - High Commander for the Christotan National Guards, Bryano is the usual crass, wealthy (assorted interests, mainly financial and in the east) type who fronts the Guards. Dislikes Tatel, Grist and in fact most politicians, but the High Commander (himself an Emissary) is another post which is almost obligatorily carries Privy Council status.
Hellender Reslich - Big light in the fiscal policy section of the Mayering Rooms. A canny uncle type, though less brilliant than he thinks. Supports Tatel in most things out of caution. Replaced Radav Viem in 1332.
Sir Owan Landisso - Nephew of Brael "Thinking Man's Empire" Landisso. Followed in his uncle's footsteps re. ambassadorship and foreign policy expert (he is Esterson's rather more capable deputy at Ambassador's Office) specialising in Flague but not, he assures everyone, re. his uncle's complete contempt for the government. Schallic, fifty-ish and rather mild and sensitive, Landisso is a staunch Grist ally at the moment.
Margat Weanson - Chairwoman of Forgar Council and Mayering Rooms advisor, from an old banking family. Elderly and ultra-conservative, she is a rather isolated figure though trusted by the mercantile community.
Gasel Satswan - Arch-Priestess of the local Ellan sect, tireless campaigner against poverty and inequality. First made Privy Council member in 1333, a clear indication of Tatel's lean towards the left.
Previous members of Tatel's Privy Council:
Antolin Arlic - A left-over from the Sebsen Acrippa era, a serious stroke forced Arlic's retirement from the Privy Council in November 1330. His place was taken by Ses Amore. Arlic is still alive but is a permanent invalid, and was also forced to resign his Emissarial seat in 1331.
Radav Viem - A former deputy commander of Federation Office, he was put on Tatel's first Privy Council basically for services rendered during her election. It was never a popular appointment; Tatel herself loathed him and his name had long been regarded as tainted. In 1332 he was charged with accepting bribes from mining companies in his Elsan ward. Viem hung on for far longer than was decent, but eventually Tatel sacked him from her council, replacing him with Hellender Reslich. In 1333 charges were brought against Viem, and though he escaped prison he was barred from ever holding public office. He is now a director of an Elsan mining company and makes a lot of money from it.
Jastac Miers - A Chela Tatel protege, put on the 1330 Privy Council when she was still Petitions Office deputy controller. Miers took over the office in 1331, and resigned from the Privy Council out of principle early in 1332. The exact principle has never come to light, and it is widely believed that Miers did it merely because resigning from the Privy Council is good for one's career. Replaced by Tomas Vinter.
Sir Marcas Lindell - Another leftover from the Acrippa years, though a widely respected one. Miers, while every inch the aristocrat, was admired by both left and right wings for his considerable expertise, his mild demeanour and his absolute incorruptability. His most influential years were probably in the late 1320's; though he remained a Principal Member under Tatel, his health was clearly declining and his attendances grew more infrequent. His death in 1333, though not unexpected, brought a genuine sense of grief in the country. Replaced by Gasel Satswan.