Klingon High Council

The High Council (also referred to as the Imperial Command or High Command) was the legislature and ruling body of the Klingon Empire.

Located in the Klingon capital of Qo'noS, the First City, it was comprised of some two dozen representatives of the most powerful houses and headed by a Council Chancellor. The members of the Council were charged with overseeing the welfare of the Klingon Empire and its citizens, with each member usually heading a major department. When the Council was summoned to determine policies, the input from each department head was used. They met in the Great Hall.

Women generally could not serve on the Council, though there were exceptions.

The Council had a long history of political intrigue, as the Great Houses battled for control over the Empire. Assassinations, duels, and hostilities were common during power struggles. When the Council chancellor was deposed, either through assassination or other means, a Rite of Succession was performed to instate the new chancellor. As with all Klingon occasions, a dose of honorable battle was inevitable, after which the two remaining contenders were to fight it out for the coveted position.

(Thanks to Memory Alpha for use of the article.)