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Royal Chancellor
The Royal Chancellor is one of the most senior and important functionaries in the government of New England. The Chancellor is appointed by the Monarch on the advice of the First Minister, and is usually a former First Minister from the same party as the incumbent First Minister. The Chancellor's responsibilities are wide-ranging; they include presiding over the Witan, participating in the State Opening of Parliament and acting as the custodian of the Great Seal of the Kingdom. The Chancellor is appointed for the life of the parliament, and may serve indefinitely. The current Chancellor is the Rt. Hon. Sir Bill Howlett.
The Chancellor wears full ceremonial uniform or court dress. The robes are black, with gold lace embroidery. The Chancellor also wears a ceremonial horse hair wig. The full title of office is His Majesty's Royal Chancellor of State. Provision for a Chancellor was not mentioned in the Constitution, but it is included in the amendments made by the constitutional convention of 2018. The roles of the Chancellor are largely the same of those of the Lord High Chancellor of the United Kingdom
.
Functions & Powers
The Speaker of the Witan - The Chancellor is first and foremost the speaker of the Witan, which meets after the death of the monarch to elect the successor. When the Witan meets, the Chancellor has the power to control debate and call the Witan to order. He can also rule on the Standing Orders of the Witan and suspend a member who acts in a manner that is deemed to be in breach of the Standing Orders.
State Opening of Parliament - The Chancellor is also involved in the State Opening of Parliament, during which the Sovereign delivers the Speech from the Throne, outlining the agenda of the Government for the upcoming parliamentary session.
Keeper of the Great Seal of the Kingdom - The Great Seal is the instrument by which the monarch's official documents can be authorised without having to be signed personally. Custody of the Great Seal of the Kingdom is entrusted to the Chancellor. Documents to which the Great Seal is affixed include letters patent, writs and royal proclamations.
Regent of the Kingdom - If the monarch is determined to be incapacitated, the Chancellor may one of the regents of the kingdom for the duration of the incapacitation of the monarch. The Chancellor usually also assumes the chair of the Executive Council during a regency period.
List of Chancellors
| Royal Chancellors of New England | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name: | Appointed By: | Took Office: | Left Office: | |
| 1 | Sir Jonathon Braddock | Antonia Davidson | 1 October 2020 | 4 March 2024 | |
| 2 | Sir Jacob Meyer | Phillip Corbett | 4 March 2024 | 21 December 2026 | |
| 3 | Jason Olsen | Antonia Davidson | 21 December 2026 | 15 March 2032 | |
| - | Sir Jacob Meyer | John Tudor | 15 March 2032 | 12 March 2040 | |
| 4 | Dame Antonia Davidson | Bill Howlett | 12 March 2040 | 14 March 2044 | |
| 5 | Sir John Tudor | Jim Gordon | 14 March 2044 | 11 March 2052 | |
| 6 | Sir Bill Howlett | Matthew Jones | 11 March 2052 | Incumbent | |
