Privy Council of Bastara
זיין מאַדזשעסטי ס פּריווי קאָונסיל | |
| Abbreviation | Privy Council, PC |
|---|---|
| Formation | 9 June 2023 |
| Legal status | Advisory Body |
| Headquarters | Doiwood Palace |
| Location | |
| Judah I | |
Lord President | Vacant |
The Privy Council of Bastara (PC), officially His Majesty's Privy Council, is the body of advisors who advise the Monarch of Bastara. Its membership consists of appointed members - some appointed directly to the council, others ex officio have seats.
The privy council advises the monarch on how to exercise much of their powers. The monarch can also pass Orders-in-Council with the advice and consent of the privy council. The council advises the sovereign on the issuing of Royal Charters.
History
The privy council was briefly established in the Bastaran constitution. It was founded on 9 June 2023.
Committees
The privy council maintains some committees.
Executive Committee
The Cabinet of Bastara is the executive committee of the privy council and the senior decision making body of the Government of Bastara.
Membership
Composition
The monarch, when acting on the Council's advice, is known as the King-in-Council or Queen-in-Council, depending on the sex of the reigning monarch.
The chief officer of the body is the Lord President of the Council, who is the fourth-highest Great Officer of State and a Cabinet member.
Members of the council that aren't in the cabinet are known as Privy Councillors. All members are appointed at the monarch's discretion but His Majesty's Government can nominate people to become members. The majority of appointees are senior politicians, including Ministers of the Crown and the Lead of the Opposition. As well as this, the Chief Rabbi of Bastara sits as an ex officio privy councillor. Other members can include senior judges (including the Lord Chief Justice), speakers of both Houses of Parliament and some members of the Bastaran royal family.
Because Privy Counsellors are bound by oath to keep matters discussed at Council meetings secret, the appointment of the leaders of opposition parties as privy counsellors allows the Government to share confidential information with them "on Privy Council terms".
Term of Office
Membership is held at the monarch's pleasure. Usually, upon the death of a monarch brings and almost immediate dissolution of the outgoing monarch's council.
The monarch can dismiss members at any time. Members can also resign at any time should they choose to.
Rights and Privileges
Members who are appointed directly to the council are entitled to the post nominal letters "PC". All members of the council, including the cabinet, are entitled to the style of "The Right Honourable" - unless they are granted a title which allows the holder to use a different and more 'senior' style.
Each Privy Councillor has the right of personal access to the monarch.
Members of the privy council are privileged to be given advance notice of any prime ministerial decision to commit the Armed Forces in military action.
Members are put higher in the order of precedence if not already conferred with a title or status that puts them higher.
Oath and Initiation
Upon appointment to the privy council, all new councillors are required to take the following oath:
I do swear by Almighty G-d to be a true and faithful Servant unto the King's Majesty, as one of His Majesty's Privy Council. I will not know or understand of any manner of thing to be attempted, done, or spoken against His Majesty's Person, Honour, Crown, or Dignity Royal, but I will let and withstand the same to the uttermost of my Power, and either cause it to be revealed to His Majesty Himself, or to such of His Privy Council as shall advertise His Majesty of the same. I will, in all things to be moved, treated, and debated in Council, faithfully and truly declare my Mind and Opinion, according to my Heart and Conscience; and will keep secret all Matters committed and revealed unto me, or that shall be treated of secretly in Council. And if any of the said Treaties or Counsels shall touch any of the Counsellors, I will not reveal it unto him, but will keep the same until such time as, by the Consent of His Majesty, or of the Council, Publication shall be made thereof. I will to my uttermost bear Faith and Allegiance unto the King's Majesty; and will assist and defend all Jurisdictions, Pre-eminences, and Authorities, granted to His Majesty, and annexed to the Crown by Acts of Parliament, or otherwise, against all Foreign Princes, Persons, Prelates, States, or Potentates. And generally in all things I will do as a faithful and true Servant ought to do to His Majesty. So help me G-d
Privy counsellors can choose to affirm their allegiance in similar terms, should they prefer not to take a religious oath.
The initiation ceremony for newly appointed privy counsellors is held in private, and typically requires kneeling on a stool before the monarch.
Meetings
By convention, the council meets at least one a month but can be called at any time at the discretion of the monarch. The monarch almost always attends the meetings, but can send someone on their behalf to represent them.
Usually the presider of the meeting is dependent on who called the meeting but is usually the monarch or the Lord President of the Council.
When the monarch passes away, the privy council of that monarch assembles one final time to announce the death of the monarch and the accession of the new monarch. When this happens, the privy council is temporarily known as the Accession Council.