A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation on how to exercise their executive authority, 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.
In non-monarchical nations, the equivalent body is the cabinet, although in some nations, such as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the cabinet is a committee of the privy council.
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Privy Councils
Functioning Privy Councils
Brunei: Privy Council of Brunei
Canada: Queen's Privy Council for Canada
Denmark: Danish Council of State
Thailand: Privy Council of Thailand
Tonga: Privy Council of Tonga
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
Former Privy Councils
Scotland: Privy Council of Scotland (abolished 1707)
Russia: Supreme Privy Council (abolished 1730)
France: Conseil du Roi (abolished 1799 and replaced by the Conseil d'État)
Hanover: Privy Council of Hanover (abolished 1866)
China: Grand Council (abolished 1898)
Germany: Geheimrat (abolished 1918 and replaced with the State Council)
Ireland: Privy Council of Ireland (abolished 1922)- Thailand: Supreme Council of State of Siam (abolished 1932)
Japan: Privy Council of Japan (abolished 1947)- Northern Ireland: Privy Council of Northern Ireland (made dormant 1972)
Sweden: Privy Council of Sweden (abolished 1974; members are now the Cabinet government)
See also
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