Royal Council
The Royal Council or Cabinet is the primary governing body of Westarctica and reports directly to the Prime Minister of Westarctica and is overseen by the Grand Duke of Westarctica.
History
The Royal Council is the successor body to the Grand Ducal Cabinet, which was created in June 2004 and dissolved during the 2010 coup.
Although Grand Duke Travis invited several ministers to advise the Crown after returning to power in 2010, it wasn't until March 2018 that His Royal Highness formally created the Royal Council as an actual institution and invested the cabinet ministers with autonomous powers beyond merely serving as advisers.
Composition
The Royal Council is comprised of positions in two categories: Ministries and other Council-Level Positions.
Appointments to Ministry postings are made by the Prime Minister, with confirmation by the Grand Duke. Other Council-Level Positions (often called Directors or Commissioners, but also military appointments) are made solely at the discretion of the Grand Duke. These typically cover, but are not limited to, areas of concern not already addressed by an existing Ministry.
The Prime Minister
The role of Prime Minister is currently the only elected position within Westarctica's government. The Prime Minister's primary function is to represent the citizens of Westarctica to the Crown and to speak on their behalf during sessions of the Royal Council. In accordance with the Charter of Westarctica, the Prime Minister is responsible for presenting laws and ordinances to the Crown for approval. The Prime Minister is also responsible for suggesting new and replacement Ministers to the Grand Duke.
The current Prime Minister, Brendan Cook, was elected in February of 2023 to a term of four years.
| Position | Current Appointee | Portrait | Since | Previous Posts Held |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister of Westarctica | Brendan Cook | 
|
20 February 2023 | Minister of Citizens Affairs (2 November 2021-20 February 2023) Deputy Prime Minister of Westarctica (11 March 2021-20 February 2023) |
Current Ministries and Council-Level Positions
| Position | Current Appointee | Portrait | Since | Additional Posts Held | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Commissioner of Westarctica | Count of Discovery Ridge | 
|
2 November 2021 | Former Minister of Transportation | |
| Minister of Defense | Duke Wolf of Waesche | 
|
29 July 2005 | Prime Minister (2 June 2010 - 24 May 2017) | |
| Foreign Minister | Count of Dorchuck | 
|
November 2024 | Vice Consul for Rhode Island | |
| Minister of Culture | Duke of Fox Grove | 
|
28 January 2020 | Former Minister of Citizenship & Immigration | |
| Minister of Communications | Countess of Carter | 
|
29 June 2018 | ||
| Minister of Colonial Affairs | Duke of Tapley | 
|
2 November 2021 | Consul to the Southern United States | |
| Minister of Sports | Dame Kristina Sullivan | 
|
2 November 2021 | District 4 Honorary Consul (Tennessee) |
Former ministries and council-level positions
| Position | Appointee | Portrait | Term of Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minister of Finance | Polly Wilson | 
|
5 December 2014 - June 2016 |
| Minister of Blockchain | Hon. Brian Erdelyi | 
|
January 2018 - January 2020 |
| Minister of Technology | Prince Dinny, the Marquis of Sarnoff | 
|
January 2015 - 27 February 2020 |
| Minister of Education | Ms. Jama Jenkins | 
|
16 May 2019 - 19 May 2020 |
| Minister of Commerce | Count of Dendtler | 
|
8 May 2019 - 4 March 2021 |
| Minister of Transportation | Count of Discovery Ridge |
|
14 March 2021 - 16 February 2022 |
| Minister of Conservation | Duchess of Eights | 
|
16 May 2019 - 6 February 2022 |
| Chancellor of the Westarctica Leadership Institute | Shannon Sullivan | 
|
2 November 2021 - 2 October 2022 |
| Commissioner of Economic Development | David Eckhard | 
|
2 November 2021 - 26 November 2024 |