Grand Councillor

The Grand Councillor, officially His Eminence, the Grand Councillor of the Easwegian Realm & of its Council (*Ez: Zaalva'dau, Zerrich vi Liydoqezerrye & Rauddo'di*), also translated as **Grand Counsellor, or Grand Chief**, is a position within the Imperative Council acting as the chief head of nation and state within the Common Union of Easway. As well as holding responsibility for the co-ordination of national ministries and documents its Council produces, the Grand Councillor acts as the head of the civil service, the joint-chief of foreign affairs, the co-commander in chief of the Easwegian National Guard, the Imperative Commander of state security, and the co-protector and archivist of Easwegian history.

The current and only serving Grand Councillor of Easway is Emizerri, who has served in this position since 19th December 2017.

## Appointment

The constitution of Easway stipulates that the office of the Grand Councillor shall be elected once per year on 19th December, the date of the first Grand Councillor, Emizerri's ascension, by challengers who have served in the Imperative Council as Marquis, or by those who lead a political party for at least one successful term.

## Powers

First and foremost, the Grand Councillor serves as co-commander in chief of the Easwegian Militia, along with the Grand Marshal. This states that they hold joint paramount responsibility for the organisation of the full militia, including the defence of the Realm, as well as holding all the powers of Grand Marshal. The co-commander in Chiefs share a seven star rank.

The Grand Councillor is responsible for overseeing the constitutional supremacy of the Realm. To this extent, with just cause, the Grand Councillor may strip members of the Imperative Council of their Ministerial title, and block directives (initiated by Directors, voted by Prefects) which violate the supreme law.

The Grand Councillor shall head the Grand Office, which oversees the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and shall receive guidance from the Regent Councillor, who is the vice-chief head of state.

The Grand Councillor holds the authority to sign off on any bills passed by the Long Palace joint legislature for it to enter into law, although the GC may only vote on bills if there is a tie. The Grand Councillor also confers with Directors and Ministers in order to sign off on bills they have legal rights over, but shall only refuse if there is a perceived violation to the constitution or law.

The Grand Councillor is responsible for the approval of publication of all official documents of the Imperative Council.

## History of the Office

The position of Grand Councillor was created on the 19th December 2017 alongside the election of Emizerri, the paramount founder of Easway. The official title used for documental work was Chief Curator, or sometimes Grand Curator of the Easwegian Realm, which had been continuously used by the Norwegian speaking population; Sjefkurator. This title was chosen by Emizerri himself, although the semi-official title of Emperor was suggested and used by founders Aleksou Maximus Desourrë and Oelaanni, as well as many whilst speaking English, both as a nod to the mythology of the Easwegian Commonwealth, which was once termed an arctic Emporium, as well as for Emizerri's role in uniting both the Ezerryen Easwegian and Norwegian speakers into one nation with English as the common lingua franca. Emizerri accepted the use of this title, although much preferred using his name or the official Chief Curator title when signing documents.

Once the federal Council was formed on the 25th May 2020, the title of Grand Curator was changed to Chancellor, modelled after both the role of Chancellor of Switzerland, in the new Directorial model, as well as inspired by the workings of the Grand Councillor within the governments of the Chinese six dynasties period.[1][2]

### Transitional Movement

Transitional Movement

Some within Easwegian politics support removing all monarchic titles within the Realm's government, mainly focused on the title of Emperor by changing them to more Republican or neutral terms, most famously supported by notable radical republican Gaia. This movement, formed on 12-13 June 2022 by Director of Business & Labour on Bear Island Etchasketch argues that the position title that exists alongside the Imperial for the Council, Chancellor should replace Imperial as the official term for the chief head of state. The argument being made is that the government of Easway already follows de facto Republican principles and because of its directorial and co-operative principles as espoused in the Emizerri's The Seven Masts Philosophy, it is consistent to also have no monarchic titles within the plebian based Realm.

The Transitional Movement claims that the philosophy of Easway's founding after the Easwegian Revolution which voted to appoint an Imperial to move the original Bear Island out of the feudal stage and have an all encompassing chief to make the neccessary changes to government and act as a paramount role model means that now the government and economics of the country are stable it is natural to also change the title of Imperial to Chancellor. The Transitional Movement cites the creation of the Council of the Easwegian Realm where the Imperial was given clear constitutional powers within the created Chancellery, as well as an Imperative constitutional order given on 27 May 2022 which removed all references to a monarchy within the constitution alongside a simultaneous Council vote changing the Imperial Council to the Imperative Council are examples of the government transitioning away from any type of monarchy. It claims changing the title of Imperial to Chancellor is the logical final step.

## Regent Grand Councillor

The Regent Grand Councillor is the position giving to an acting Grand Councillor in times when the incumbent Grand Councillor is temporarily either incapable of carrying out their full duties, or at their discretion for many reasons. The first eligible candidate for RGC will always fall upon the incumbent Regent Councillor, although they may choose to decline the position, enabling the next Marquis or Alderman in rotation to be eligible.

The RGC is given the power, by the constitution, to act in the full Council capacity of the Grand Councillor whilst in acting office, except for matters of the national militia; in which power is transferred collectively to the entire council for the duration of the RGC; and matters of national security; where the Grand Councillor retains imperative command, unless choosing to resign, or their incumbent term comes to a close.

### List of Regent Grand Councillors

* 1st - Csyeigo: 22nd-24th May 2020
* 2nd - Eichorn: 1st-4th October 2021
* 3rd - Eichorn: 8th-18th October 2022
* 4th - Hellmut: Since 5th November 2022