The Assarian Privy Council

The Privy Council is the highest administrative body in the Assar Empire’s civil hierarchy. The Council was formed during the Moral Reforms roughly 1500 years ago as a collection of staunch supporters of the Assarian Emperor, where it assumed much of the powers of the Council of Apostles. It is a fifteen-member council composed of representatives from the Empire's various non-royal power blocs and institutions, collectively forming the Assar Emperor's personal advisory council.
Organization
In theory, it is composed of neutral aristocrats and civil servants who owe loyalty only to the Empire. In practice, each member has ties to some political group, their influence curtailed only by their own charisma and that of opposing members of the Council. It's an intensely politicized private stage where the Empire's various internal factions struggle for dominance and where every seat is bitterly fought over by competing interests, and still represents, at its core, the five Royal families vying for the throne. As such, the major power blocs are the five Imperial Houses, who all have seats on the Council and whose power has increased in recent years to the point where it's almost impossible to gain a seat on the Privy Council without the backing of at least one House. Several major institutions do have near-permanent positions, and smaller interest groups who've secured patronage from a House occasionally manage to get a seat, but they're made constantly aware of exactly who got them there.

Emperor's Oversight
The empress of course has the final say in all matters, and there's no question of the council forcing a decision on her. However, it's understood by everyone that every choice made has a political cost, and that a House which is overruled on a key decision will find other ways to make its displeasure felt. The result is an uneasy balance of power, with the emperor still dominant but nevertheless restrained by his political adversaries in the day-to-day running of the Empire. Controversial decisions are still made, but they must be weighed carefully if the sitting emperor wishes to avoid having other initiatives quietly blocked at every turn by an offended Heir.

Sessions and Seats
The Privy Council traditionally has fifteen seats, the first two of which are reserved for the emperor and his Court Chamberlain. Five more seats have been unofficially but permanently reserved for the five Houses, who have been consistent members of the Council since its formation during the Moral Reforms. For much of this period those seats have been occupied by representatives rather than the Heirs themselves, to allow the Heirs to get on with their other business without requiring them to be at the emperor's beck and call. This concentration of power has led to a distinction being drawn between "Full Sessions" where the entire Council is present, and "Closed Sessions" comprising just the emperor, the chamberlain and the Heirs or their representatives; the latter are, bureaucratically speaking, merely informal gatherings and not Council sessions, but as most major political decisions are made in Closed Session the distinction is a somewhat meaningless one.


Meeting Conduct
The Council typically spends at least the first hour of meetings discussing fiscal details. When the Emperor was particularly weak or withdrawn, as was the case in the years leading up to YC105 with Emperor Heideran VII, the Council was the de-facto leadership of the Empire and made all decisions by committee. However, the Emperor had the right to reassert his power at any moment, as Heideran did. Most members of the Council dreaded having the Emperor involved and having their own power curtailed.

Current Privy Council
With the ascension of Empress Jamyl I, things have changed significantly with the major power players back in the closed council and the new power blocs still being contested.

The Emperor's Seat Occupied by Empress Jamyl I.

Ardishapur Family Seat Occupied by Royal Heir Yonis Ardishapur. Yonis Ardishapur was perhaps the most reluctant of the Royal Heirs to agree to the enthronement of Empress Jamyl I. Relations between House Ardishapur and the Imperial Throne remain somewhat tense but have eased since earlier political disagreements. The appointment of Lord Ardishapur as Holder of Derelik gives him supreme authority over the Ammatar Mandate, and he has lately put much energy into the development of the Mandate and consolidating his hold over the region.

Kador Family Seat Occupied by Royal Heir Uriam Kador. The noble heritage of the Kador weighs heavily on Uriam and his paternal attitude towards the Empire has sometimes led him into conflict with Empress Jamyl I. The Kador Incursion into Solitude and the subsequent sanctions laid against House Kador have considerably chilled relations between Heir and Empress.

Tash-Murkon Family Seat Occupied by Royal Heir Catiz Tash-Murkon. Under the astute leadership of Catiz, the Tash-Murkon have been playing the long game in Imperial politics, concentrating on steady development of political and economic ties within and without the Empire. The Tash-Murkon strategy appears to be bearing fruits and relations with the Imperial Throne are cordial with the power of the Tash-Murkon consequently being more than appearances would suggest.

The Chamberlain's Seat Occupied by Pomik Haromi

Kor-Azor Family Seat Occupied by Royal Heir Aritcio Kor-Azor Since his judgement at the hands of the Speakers of Truth, Ariticio Kor-Azor is a much-changed man. His tastes for conflict and excess are now firmly held in check and he has made every effort to gain favour with the Empress. Lord Kor-Azor's appointment as Imperial Chancellor gives him much power within the Empire but also ties his fortunes much more closely to those of the Imperial Throne.

Sarum Family Seat Occupied by Royal Heir Merimeth Sarum. Merimeth Sarum formally became Royal Heir upon the coronation of Jamyl Sarum as Empress and keenly remembers the humiliation he felt as his status remained in limbo during the Karsoth Interregnum. Nevertheless, Merimeth's loyalty to the Imperial Throne is not in doubt and he is fully aware that House Sarum has much to gain or lose depending on the successes or failures of Empress Jamyl I.

Khanid Family Seat Occupied by the Lord Councillor Khanid of the Khanid Kingdom. The establishment of a sixth familial seat on the council for King Khanid II, styled and addressed as 'Lord Councillor' within the Privy Council, did not go unopposed by some Royal Heirs, with Lord Ardishapur the most vocal in his opposition. Lord Khanid is content for the moment to consolidate his new status and advance the interests of the Khanid House and Kingdom within the Amarr Empire.