Defence Council (Econia)
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 November 2023 |
| Jurisdiction | Imperial State of Econia  |
| Headquarters | Principality of Lindborgen |
| Agency executives | |
The Defence Council of Econia is the body responsible for advising the Sovereign on matters of defence. As Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Econia, the Imperial Sovereign serves as Chairman of the Defence Council. In theory they alone control the Armed Forces in these capacities and can declare both war and peace as they please, but in practice the Sovereign uses their military authority mostly on the advice of the Defence Council or the Government. The Minister of Defence is the Deputy Chairman of the Defence Council and the governments representitve on the Council. All Generals of the Army and Airforce and Admirals of Naval Forces are members of the Council. Potential holders of the higher ranks of Field Marshal 2nd Class (1st Class reserved for the Sovereign), Grand Admiral or Air Marshal are also given seats on the Council. This however since they also hold the lower ranks previously mentioned giving them membership. Special Commanders, military officers of lower ranks given special status by the Sovereign, also sit on the Council.
Function
The Defence Council is according to the constitution the highest advisory body to the Sovereign in his role as Commander-in-Chief. Even though the Sovereign on paper can exercise their military authority however they wish, it is customary that they only act on the advice of the Council. So even if the power to declare war and peace officially lies with the Commander-in-Chief they may only use it if adviced to do so by the Defence Council. The Sovereigns approval is however still required and they can refuse to act on the Councils advice.
Appointment to the Council is automatic when promoted to either the rank of General (in the Army and Airforce) or Admiral (in the Naval Forces). Since holders of the higher ranks also hold at least one of these lower ranks they are also allowed to sit on the Council. These being the Field Marshal 2nd Class (by virtue of being a General of the Army), the , the Grand Admiral (in their capacity as Admiral of the Naval Forces), and the Junior Air Marshal (as a General of the AirForce). Lower ranking officers within the Armed Forces can also be given seats on the Council if appointed as a Special Commander by the Chairman (the Sovereign). The power to appoint Special Commanders is however delegated to the Minister of Defence (Deputy Chairman of the Council) most of the time. Council meetings are called by the Commander-in-Chief on recommendation of the Deputy Chairman whenever they want to call a meeting. It is however required for the Defence Council to meet at least every January for the annual New Years Council.