Ankh'heran Magistrate

The Ankh'heran Magistrate is a government official appointed through displays of meritocratic actions and power of patronage of the Mystrasi, that is delegated one of many major responsibilities of public, civil and judicial affairs within Ankh'hera. They act as one of many advisers to the Mystrasi, the first leader of the Ankh'heran diarchy. Their membership mainly comprises senior politicians that are current or former members of the Court of the Great Sphinx.
They were usually chosen from the nobility (the Prides) and the Mystrasi could take their power away if they offended them. The nobility would then appoint others from the Prides to official jobs. These Pride member Magistrates were responsible for controlling their own locality like local councils do. Power is based on ability, but it has been known to be based on friendship and favour at times.
The Mystrasi needed her Magistrates to control their lands and to inform them of the mood of the people. They needed the Mystrasi more as their power came directly from them, therefore, attendance at their court was important as it brought them into contact with the Mystrasi. A chance remark or good performance, excellent job or notable proof of skill could bring them to the Mystrasi's attention and thus increase the likelihood of the Mystrasi and the Court bestowing further favour on them. It was important for a Magistrate to retain the favour of the Mystrasi as they would be able to build a network of loyal supporters with which to control their own lands.
If they lost favour, then they would find it more difficult to find the Prides 'gentry' to support them. The Mystrasi did not limit their favour to the biggest noble families, rather they preferred to offer their favour more widely thereby increasing their control and limiting the power of greater nobles.

OATH AND INITIATION RITE

The oath of the Magistrates have undergone a number of revisions, but a modern one was essentially settled. It is regarded by the other Magistrates as criminal, and possibly treasonous, to disclose the oath administered to other magistrates as they take office.

"You do swear by the almighty Divines to be a true and faithful servant unto the Mystrasi's Holiness, as one of the Mystrasi's Magistrates. You will not know or understand of any manner of thing to be attempted, done, or spoken against the Mystrasi's person, honour, position or dignity holy, but you will let and withstand the same to the uttermost of your power, and either cause it to be revealed to the Mystrasi herself, or to such of Her Court of the Great Sphinx as shall advertise Her Holiness of the same. You will, in all things to be moved, treated, and debated in Council, faithfully and truly decalre your Mind and Opinion, according to your Heart and Conscience; and will keep secret all Matters committed and revealed unto you, or that shall be treated of secretly in Council. An if any of the said Treaties or Counsels shall touch any of the Counsellors, you will not reveal it unto him, but will keep the same until such time as, by the Consent of Her Holiness, or of the Council, Publication shall be made thereof. You will to your utmost bear Faith and Allegiance unto the Mystrasi's Holiness; and will assist and defend all Jurisdictions, Pre-eminences, and Authorities, granted to Her Holiness, and annexed to the Mystrasi by Acts of Gathering, or otherwise, against all Foreign Princes, Persons, Prelates, States, or Potentates. And generally in all things you will do as a faithful and true Servant ought to do to Her Holiness. So help you Divines."

Magistrates can choose to affirm their allegiance in similar terms, should they prefer not to take a religious oath. At the induction ceremony, the order of precedence places Tabaxi or Pansophians (being those of the established church) before others.
The initiation ceremony for newly appointed Magistrates is held in private, and typically requires kneeling on a stool before the Mystrasi and then kissing hands. The new Magistrate will extend his or her right hand, palm upwards, and taking the Mystrasi's hand lightly, will kiss it with no more than a touch of the lips. The ceremony has caused difficulties for Magistrates who advocate the absence of such ceremonies - one has been said to kiss their own thumb, rather than the Mystasi's, while others have been known to not kneel. Not all members of the Magistrate go through the initiation ceremony. Appointments have been frequently made by an Order of the Court, although it is rare for a leader to use such a course.

TERMS OF OFFICE

Membership is conferred for life. Formerly, the death of the Mystrasi (otherwise known as "Demise of the Oracle") brought the immediate dissolution of the Mystrasi's private council and an imminent six-month dissolution of the Court of the Great Sphinx, as all appointments automatically lapsed.
By convention, however, the Mystrasi would reappoint all members of the Court after its dissolution. In practice, therefore, membership continued with a minimal break.
The Mystrasi, however, may remove an individual from the Court of the Great Sphinx. If they are found convicted of a crime that involved their use of power within the Great Court, or otherwise. Individuals can choose to resign, sometimes to avoid expulsion.

RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES

These magistrates as a whole are termed "The Most Honoured", whilst its members individually, are entitled to be styled "The Right Honorable".
Each magistrate has the right of personal access to the Mystrasi. Peers were considered to enjoy that right individually, whereas the magistrates enjoy this right collectively. In each case, personal access may only be used to tender advice on public affairs.
They are accorded a formal rank of precedence, if not already having a higher one. At the beginning of each new Great Gathering, and at the discretion of the Herald, those members of the Magistrates who are of the Court of the Sphinx usually take the oath of allegiance before all other members except the Prident & the Pride Lords, as well as the Senior Magistrate (who is the member of the Court who has the longest continuous service). Should a Magistrate rise to speak in these sessions at the same time as another honourable member, the Herald usually gives priority to the Right Honorable Member.

FUNCTIONS

The Mystrasi exercises executive authority by making Orders in Court upon the advice of the Court of the Sphinx. Orders-in-Court, which are drafted by the government rather than by the sovereign, are secondary legislature and are used to make government regulations and to make government appointments.
Distinct from Orders-in-Court and Orders of Court: the former are issued by the sovereign figure upon the advice of the Court, whereas the latter are made by members of the Court of the Great Sphinx without requiring the sovereign's approval. They are issued under the specific authority of the Acts of Gathering, and most commonly used for the regulation of public institutions.
The Sovereign also grants royal charters on the advice of the Court of the Great Sphinx. Charters bestow special status to incorporated bodies; they are used to grant "chartered" status to certain professional, educational or charitable bodies, and sometimes also city and borough status to towns. The Court of the Great Sphinx therefore deals with a wide range of matters, which also include university and livery company statutes, churchyard, coinage and the dates of bank holidays. The Court of the Great Sphinx had sole power to grant academic degree-awarding powers and the title of university.

COMMITTEES

The Court of the Great Sphinx comprises of a number of committees involving magistrates:
The Accession Council
The Accession Council is made up of Magistrates, great officers of state, members of the Pride Lords, the Great Vizier, the aldermen of the city of Ankh'hera, high commissioners, and senior civil servants. It is a ceremonial body which assembles in the Oracle Palace upon the death of a Mystrasi to make a formal proclamation of the accession of the successor to the throne, should one be found within six months. The ceremony also bestows regency powers to the Prident, representing the Prides overall, until the Mystrasi's successor appears.
The Court of the Great Sphinx
The Court of the Great Sphinx is the collective decision-making body of the Mystrasi's government of Ankh'hera, composed of many Magistrates in specific delegated responsibilities and offices, the Great Vizier, the Prident, the three Oluwa representing each of the Three Great Prides, and the most senior Viziers, Magistrates and Overseers. These members may consist of members from previous Mystrasi if found worthy by their successor.
Judicial Committee of the Court of the Great Sphinx The Judicial Committee of the Court of the Great Sphinx consists of the senior judges (Overseers) who are proven and trained government officials. The decision of the Committee is presented in the form of 'advice' to the Mystrasi, but in practice it is always followed by the sovereign (as Oracle-in-Council), who formally approves the recommendation of the Judicial Committee.
They hear appeals from local and ecclesiastical courts, royal colleges and universities, appeals against schemes of Church commissioners and apeals under certain Acts of Gathering. They hold jurisdiction over these cases in relation to the territories of the Mystrasi in the Pridelands.
The Academia Committee
The Academia Committee considers petitions against statutes made by the different universities and their colleges.

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NOTABLE POSITIONS

• Magistrate of Commerce
• Magistrate of Domestic Affairs
• Magistrate of Cultivation
• Magistrate of the Treasury
• Magistrate of Diplomatic Union
• Magistrate of Justice
• Magistrate of Arcana
• Magistrate of Industry
• Magistrate of Ceremony
• Magistrate of the Palace
• Magistrate of the Robe
• Magistrate of the Seals
• Magistrate of the Hunt
• Magistrate of the Peace
• Magistrate of Arms

Type

Civic, Political