Privy council
Encyclopedia
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state
of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government
. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee
of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential
advice on affairs of state.
: Queen's Privy Council for Canada
: Danish Council of State
: Norwegian Council of State
: Privy Council of Thailand: Privy Council of Tonga
: Privy Counsellor of the Royal Household of the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom
: His Imperial Majesty's Council (honorific title, some members were part of the Council of Ministers or the Council of State
, abolished by a coup in 1889): Byae Tite (abolished 1885): Grand Council
(abolished 1898): Privy Council of England
(abolished 1707, replaced by Privy Council of the United Kingdom): Conseil du Roi
(abolished 1799 and replaced by the Conseil d'État) Germany
: Geheimrat
(abolished 1918 and replaced with the State Council
1919-1933, and the Federal Council from 1949) Hanover: Privy Council of Hanover
(abolished 1866) Kingdom of Hawaii
: (Kingdom of Hawaii overthrown 1893) Ireland
: Privy Council of Ireland
(abolished 1922): Privy Council of Northern Ireland
(made dormant 1972): Privy Council of Japan
(abolished 1947): Supreme Privy Council
(abolished 1730): Privy Council of Scotland
(abolished 1707, replaced by Privy Council of the United Kingdom): Supreme Council of State of Siam (abolished 1932): Privy Council of Sweden
(abolished 1974; members are now the Cabinet government)
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee
Committee
A committee is a type of small deliberative assembly that is usually intended to remain subordinate to another, larger deliberative assembly—which when organized so that action on committee requires a vote by all its entitled members, is called the "Committee of the Whole"...
of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is an ethical principle associated with several professions . In ethics, and in law and alternative forms of legal resolution such as mediation, some types of communication between a person and one of these professionals are "privileged" and may not be discussed or divulged to...
advice on affairs of state.
Functioning privy councils
: Privy Council of Bhutan: Privy Council of BruneiPolitics of Brunei
The politics of Brunei take place in a framework of an absolute monarchy, whereby the Sultan of Brunei is both head of state and head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government...
: Queen's Privy Council for Canada
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
: Danish Council of State
Danish Council of State
The Council of State is the privy council of Denmark. The body of advisors to the Danish sovereign, the council is a formal institution, with largely ceremonial functions. Chaired by the sovereign, the council comprises all cabinet ministers and the Crown prince or hereditary princess when he or...
: Norwegian Council of State
Norwegian Council of State
The Norwegian Council of State consists, according to the constitution of the prime minister and at least seven other ministers, the majority of which must belong to the state church. The current number of ministers is 20.-External links:*...
: Privy Council of Thailand: Privy Council of Tonga
Privy Council of Tonga
The Privy Council of Tonga is the privy council of the Kingdom of Tonga. It belongs both to the executive and judiciary branches of government...
: Privy Counsellor of the Royal Household of the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom
-
- Herold Privy Counsellor of the Royal Office of Orders, Honors and Awards Affairs of the Royal Household of the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom: Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council
- Cabinet Committee of the Privy Council; the Cabinet of the United KingdomCabinet of the United KingdomThe Cabinet of the United Kingdom is the collective decision-making body of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, composed of the Prime Minister and some 22 Cabinet Ministers, the most senior of the government ministers....
- Judicial Committee of the Privy CouncilJudicial Committee of the Privy CouncilThe Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is one of the highest courts in the United Kingdom. Established by the Judicial Committee Act 1833 to hear appeals formerly heard by the King in Council The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) is one of the highest courts in the United...
- Privy Council OfficePrivy Council Office (United Kingdom)The Privy Council Office provides secretarial and administrative support to the Lord President of the Council in his or her capacity of president of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council. The head of the Office is the Clerk of the Privy Council...
Former privy councils
BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
: His Imperial Majesty's Council (honorific title, some members were part of the Council of Ministers or the Council of State
Council of State
The Council of State is a unique governmental body in a country or subdivision thereoff, though its nature may range from the formal name for the cabinet to a non-executive advisory body surrounding a head of state. It is sometimes regarded as the equivalent of a privy council.-Modern:*Belgian...
, abolished by a coup in 1889): Byae Tite (abolished 1885): Grand Council
Grand Council
The Grand Council or Junjichu was an important policy-making body in the Qing Empire. It was established in 1733 by the Yongzheng Emperor...
(abolished 1898): Privy Council of England
Privy Council of England
The Privy Council of England, also known as His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, was a body of advisers to the sovereign of the Kingdom of England...
(abolished 1707, replaced by Privy Council of the United Kingdom): Conseil du Roi
Conseil du Roi
The Conseil du Roi or King's Council is a general term for the administrative and governmental apparatus around the king of France during the Ancien Régime designed to prepare his decisions and give him advice...
(abolished 1799 and replaced by the Conseil d'État) Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
: Geheimrat
Geheimrat
Geheimrat was the title of the highest advising officials at the Imperial, royal or principal courts of the Holy Roman Empire, who jointly formed the Geheimer Rat reporting to the ruler...
(abolished 1918 and replaced with the State Council
Reichsrat (Germany)
The Reichsrat was one of the two legislative bodies in Germany under the Weimar constitution, the other one being the Reichstag. After the end of German monarchy and the founding of the Weimar Republic in 1919, the Reichsrat replaced the Bundesrat as the representation of the various German...
1919-1933, and the Federal Council from 1949) Hanover: Privy Council of Hanover
Privy Council of Hanover
The Privy Council of the Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg, popularly known as Hanover, was the administrative branch of the electoral government of Hanover. Its members were known as ministers and often controlled indirectly the other branches of the government, except the military which was...
(abolished 1866) Kingdom of Hawaii
Kingdom of Hawaii
The Kingdom of Hawaii was established during the years 1795 to 1810 with the subjugation of the smaller independent chiefdoms of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lānai, Kauai and Niihau by the chiefdom of Hawaii into one unified government...
: (Kingdom of Hawaii overthrown 1893) Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
: Privy Council of Ireland
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
(abolished 1922): Privy Council of Northern Ireland
Privy Council of Northern Ireland
The Privy Council of Northern Ireland was a formal body of advisors to the sovereign and was a vehicle for the monarch's prerogative powers in Northern Ireland. It was modelled on the Privy Council of the United Kingdom....
(made dormant 1972): Privy Council of Japan
Privy Council (Japan)
was an advisory council to the Emperor of Japan that operated from 1888 to 1947.-Functions:Modeled in part upon the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, this body advised the throne on matters of grave importance including:...
(abolished 1947): Supreme Privy Council
Supreme Privy Council
The Supreme Privy Council of Imperial Russia was founded on 8 February 1726 as a body of advisors to Catherine I.Originally, the council included six members — Alexander Menshikov, Fyodor Apraksin, Gavrila Golovkin, Andrey Osterman, Peter Tolstoy, and Dmitry Galitzine. Several months later,...
(abolished 1730): Privy Council of Scotland
Privy Council of Scotland
The Privy Council of Scotland was a body that advised the King.In the range of its functions the council was often more important than the Estates in the running the country. Its registers include a wide range of material on the political, administrative, economic and social affairs of Scotland...
(abolished 1707, replaced by Privy Council of the United Kingdom): Supreme Council of State of Siam (abolished 1932): Privy Council of Sweden
Privy Council of Sweden
The High Council of Sweden or Council of the Realm consisted originally of those men of noble, common and clergical background, that the king saw fit for advisory service...
(abolished 1974; members are now the Cabinet government)
See also
- Council of StateCouncil of StateThe Council of State is a unique governmental body in a country or subdivision thereoff, though its nature may range from the formal name for the cabinet to a non-executive advisory body surrounding a head of state. It is sometimes regarded as the equivalent of a privy council.-Modern:*Belgian...
- Crown CouncilCrown CouncilCrown Council may refer to:* Crown Council of Belgium, the King, his Ministers and the Ministers of State, meeting on rare occasions to advise the King* Crown Council of Ethiopia, the constitutional body advising the reigning Emperors of Ethiopia...
- Executive Council (Commonwealth countries)Executive Council (Commonwealth countries)An Executive Council in Commonwealth constitutional practice based on the Westminster system is a constitutional organ which exercises executive power and advises the governor or governor-general. Executive Councils often make decisions via Orders in Council.Executive Councillors are informally...
- State CouncilState CouncilState Council may refer to:In politics:* State Council of the Soviet Union, was the chief administrative authority of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics...