Privy Council of Parnesia

Privy Council of Parnesia
His Majesty's Most Noble Privy Council
Abbreviation	PC
Formation	19 June 2024
Legal status	Advisory Body
Location	Kingdom of Parnesia;
Official language	English
Monarch	Luke I

The Privy Council of Parnesia, officially His Majesty's Most Noble Privy Council, is the formal and official body of advisors to the Monarch of Parnesia. Its members, known as privy councillors, are appointed and serve at the discretion of the monarch.

The privy council advises the sovereign on the exercise of the royal prerogative. When acting on this advice, actions taken are known as Orders-in-Council. Additionally the privy council advises on the issuing of royal charters. Certain judicial functions are also exercised by the privy council with the consent of the monarch.

History

The privy council was established on 19 June 2024. The council was created by King Luke I through his issuance of Royal Order 3, which created the council - defining its functions and his relation to it as monarch in addition to its judicial functions.

Functions

The privy council advises the sovereign on the exercise of their royal prerogative powers. Decisions made based on privy council advice are known as "Orders-in-Council" and usually are pieces of legislation suggested by the council, however royal charters can be issued on the advice of the privy council. Orders in Council can be primary or secondary legislation and always require the assent of the monarch before they take effect.

The privy council may also act as a court with the monarch as its chief judge. However it only actually exercises this function on order or warrant of the monarch.

Membership

Composition

The monarch may appoint any person they wish as a privy councillor. It is generally expected that some Royals in addition to senior nobility, members of the defence council, and others should be appointed as ex officio privy councillors. Clergy and some judges are usually appointed to the council as well.

There is no limit to the number of members who may sit in the council, but all members are generally expected to keep the discussions of meetings secret unless the monarch gives express permission for certain topics of discussion to be released to the public.

When acting on the advice of the council, the monarch is known as the "King-in-Council" or "Queen-in-Council" depending on their sex.

Meetings

Meetings of the privy council are called at the monarch's discretion - so their frequency is dependent on each monarch's style of chairmanship over the council. However, it is customary to host meetings at least once a month, or more frequently in times of national emergency or unrest. During times of war, the privy council is usually sidelined in favour of the defence council.

The monarch attends and chairs all meetings of the council, but can ask the crown prince to chair on their behalf in the monarch's absence. The lengths of meetings vary depending on the agenda of each meeting, but it is common to keep the meetings short. Usually all available privy councillors attend meetings of the council, but the monarch can choose to have meetings with a smaller quorum of privy councillors.

Full meetings of the council are aways expected upon the death of a monarch to announce the death of the monarch to the council and then to dissolve it to allow the next monarch to select the new privy council.

Term of Office

Membership of the council is at the monarch's discretion. All members are retained as members of the council for the duration the monarch wishes to keep them as a member. Additionally, members can choose to resign if it means they avoid dismissal. However, upon the death of the monarch the privy council is automatically dissolved, and thus all members are dismissed and lose privy councillor status unless the monarch taking the throne wishes to retain any privy councillors their predecessor appointed.

Privileges

The privy council as a whole is referred to as "The Most Noble" while its members individually are entitled to the style of "The Right Honourable" unless entitled to a higher one by grace of something such a non-royal duke or marquess title. Additionally, all privy councillors are entitled to the post-nominal letters "PC" regardless of any other post-nominals they are entitled to use.

Privy councillors also are entitled to direct access to the sovereign, and are authorised to request an audience with them. Additionally, privy councillors are also given a rank in the order of precedence (usually in order of seniority within the council) if not already granted one.

Oath of Office

Upon assuming office as a privy councillor, the incoming member is expecting to take an oath of office - part of which includes swearing to remain loyal to the monarch and provide them the best possible advice when consulted. The oath is usually administered to the incoming privy councillor by the monarch directly at the next privy council meeting after the new member's appointment.

Committees

The privy council has the authorisation to form committees to help exercise its functions. Committees are formed with the assent of the monarch and are formed to exercised specific functions of the council. Usually committees are formed by royal order. Committees may be temporary and function for a defined term, or be established on a permanent basis depending on the committee and the needs at the time of its creation.

Commissions

In addition to committees, the privy council may form temporary commissions (called royal commissions) to undertake research projects commissioned by the monarch or privy council more widely. Commissions act as consultative bodies and inform the monarch on their assigned issues and recommend a course of action based on their research.

Commissions are dissolved at the end of their research project and presentation to the monarch.