Privy council

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 state affairs.

Privy councils

Functioning privy councils

•  Belgium: Crown Council of Belgium
•  Bhutan: Privy Council of Bhutan
•  Brunei: Privy Council of Brunei
•  Canada: Queen's Privy Council for Canada
•  Denmark: Danish Council of State
•  Jamaica: Privy Council of Jamaica
•  Norway: Norwegian Council of State
•  Netherlands: Dutch Council of State
•  Thailand: Privy Council of Thailand
•  Tonga: Privy Council of Tonga
•  Uganda: Privy Councillor of the Royal Household of the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom
  • Herold Privy Councillor of the Royal Office of Orders, Honours and Awards Affairs of the Royal Household of the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom
•  United Kingdom: Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council
  • Cabinet Committee of the Privy Council; the Cabinet of the United Kingdom
  • Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
  • Privy Council Office
•  New Zealand: Executive Council of New Zealand
  • Cabinet Committee of the Executive Council; the New Zealand Cabinet

Non-functioning privy council

•  Northern Ireland: Privy Council of Northern Ireland: Created 1922, has not met since 1973

Former privy councils

•  Australia: Privy Council (formally the highest court of appeal for Australia, abolished in 1986)
•  Brazil: 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)
•  Burma: Byedaik (abolished 1885)
•  China: Grand Council (abolished 1898)
•  England: Privy Council of England (in 1707 merged into the Privy Council of Great Britain)
•  Ethiopia: Crown Council of Ethiopia (abolished 1974, revived in pretence 1987)
•  France: 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)
•  Greece: Council of State, initially established as a Privy council by King Otto in 1835 (abolished in 1865, re-established in 1929 as the senior administrative court of Greece.
• Hanover: Privy Council of Hanover (abolished 1866)
•  Kingdom of Hawaii: (Kingdom of Hawaii overthrown 1893)
•  Kingdom of Ireland (and later United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland): Privy Council of Ireland (retained following the coming into effect of the Act of Union 1800, but dormant from 1922)
•  Northern Ireland: Privy Council of Northern Ireland (made dormant 1972)
•  Portugal: His Most Faithful Majesty's Council (monarchy abolished in 1910)
•  Japan: Privy Council of Japan (abolished 1947)
•  Russia: Supreme Privy Council (abolished 1730)
•  Scotland: Privy Council of Scotland (abolished on 1 May 1708, replaced by the Privy Council of Great Britain)
•  Thailand: Supreme Council of State of Siam (abolished 1932)
•  Sweden: Privy Council of Sweden (abolished 1789)

See also

• Council of State
• Crown Council
• Executive Council (Commonwealth countries)
• State Council

References