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EDITIONS
Tuesday, 19 May, 1998, 21:29 GMT 22:29 UK
Privy Council
Historically the Privy Council was the name given to the group of ministers who acted as chief advisers to the King or Queen.

As the power of the monarch declined the Cabinet replaced the Privy Council as the senior decision-making body.

Today the Privy Council's duties are largely formal and ceremonial.

It has about three hundred members, including all Cabinet members past and present, the leaders of all the main parties, and the Speaker. Its formal tasks include authorising orders in council and making appointments to offices of the crown.

In the House of Commons a Privy Councillor will take precedence over a normal MP when the Speaker calls MPs to speak, and may speak for longer. Privy Councillors are referred to in the Commons as "Right Honourable" members.

See also:

19 May 98 | A-B
19 May 98 | P-Q
19 May 98 | P-Q
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