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Privy Council

From British Culture

Historically, a select number of powerful men that met with the monarch in private (hence the name). Today, the Privy Council has some limited executive and judicial functions. The Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British monarch and one of Britain's oldest institutions. It is dating back to the earliest days of the monarchy when it comprised those chosen by the King or Queen to advise them in important matters of state.

Elizabeth I's Privy Council consisted of about 40 members. Today there are 546 members, including all cabinet members past and present, the leaders of all the main parties, the Speaker (of the House of Commons), Archbishops, senior judges and some other important public figures. These members are appointed for life by the Queen on the prime minister's advice and are entitled to use the prefix "Right Honourable". New members are inaugurated at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

In its day-to-day business, the Privy Council meets regularly, on average once a month. Usually, councils are held by The Queen. Only a handful of members attend these meetings. Most of its business is transacted in discussion and correspondence between its Ministerial members and the Government Departments that advise them. Most deal with such matters as various as the closure of burial grounds, the proclamation of a new coinage and the dates of bank holidays.

Nowadays, the Privy Council no longer advises the monarch. Their function is confined to seeking the Queen's formal approval to a number of orders which have already been discussed and approved by ministers. However, the Privy Council still can exercise some restricted executive, judicial and administrative duties, e.g. in certain circumstances it can alter the statute book.


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