Privy Council (Themiclesia)
The Privy Council, or Inner Council (中大夫, trjung-dais-pja) in some translations, is a group of officers that offers private advice to the Themiclesian emperor. Their convener and chairperson (in some functions) is called the President of the Privy Council (中大夫令, trjung-dais-pja-mlings). The group has few formal meetings specific to themselves, but their privilege of attendance means a number of them can usually be found around the emperor at any time. They have no formal powers, though historically their proximity to the throne has generally rewarded them with royal favours and desirable appointments. The Privy Council has no fixed membership or term of office; once appointed, the councillor retains the title for life.
Etymology
The phrase Privy Councillor (中大夫, trjung-dais-pja) is Menghean in origin, first attested in history in the 7th c. BCE. There are two possible interpretations of this phrase, either as "middle great officer" (i.e. as a rank between the "upper" and "lower" great officer) or as the "inner great officer" (i.e. in the palace, as opposed to a great officer in an posting elsewhere). In view of its continued use in Themiclesia, after Menghean abolition in the 1st c. BCE, the second etymology seems likelier. The word President (令, mlings) is commonplace to denote the officer responsible for a body or group; in other contexts, it is translated as "director" or "commander" as required by Casaterran analogues.
History
By custom, certain officials making regular contact with the emperor are appointed Privy Councillor to grant them access to the innermost section of the Palace, legally called the Enclosure. Until 1853, entry into the Enclosure by an unrecognized person (for any reason whatsoever) was punishable by death, the last non-violent capital crime in Themiclesia. The severity of the penalty is a consequence of the absence of any armed security force in the Enclosure. There were thus lists of persons allowed into the Enclosure to prevent misidentification. Some lists, through evolution of Themiclesian political institutions, became associated with governmental functions, such as that of cabinet ministers and legislators. Others, such as that of the Privy Councillors, remained mostly-honourary and granted at the emperor's will.
Under the jurisdiction of the Privy Treasurer (少府, stjawh-pja’), there are a considerable number of officers that tend to the personal enjoyment of the monarch. Dedicated officials existed to tend after the palace's gardens, forests, ponds, and other facilities. One such official was the Director of Cats (貓令, mraw-mlings), which was created in 1386 to provide a litter of cats for royal company. The Director of Cats was made a Privy Councillor so that he could calm cats irritated by the emperor and restore them to amicability before the emperor. Yet despite their proximity, they were not by default permitted in the Enclosure.
Composition
Automatic membership:
- Former Presidents of Correspondence (prime minister)
.jpg)