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.

Contents 1 Privy Councils 1.1 Functioning Privy Councils 1.2 Former Privy Councils 2 See also

[edit] Privy Councils

[edit] 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

[edit] 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 1919-1933, and the Federal Council from 1949)
• 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)

[edit] See also

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