Lord High Chancellor of Gristol-Serkonos

The Lord High Chancellor (Gristin: Lurihintekanzerrii, Serkonsi: Lorhantekanzelerii) is the head of government in Gristol-Serkonos. The Lord High Chancellor is appointed by the Diarchs, the heads of state. The incumbent Lord High Chancellor is Cynthia Valtorum, the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Gristol Serkonos. She was appointed by the Diarchs in 2014.

Origin of the Office
The position of the Lord High Chancellor is not outlined in any constitutional document. The office and its function are governed by constitutional conventions and modelled on the same office in Parliamentary Systems.

Qualifications and selection
The Lord High Chancellor, along with the other ministers of the High Council, is appointed by the Imperial Diarchy. Under the conventions of responsible government, to maintain administrative stability, the Diarchy will call to form a government most likely to receive the support, or the majority of the Members of the Consei-Estadi. This is often the leader of a party whose members form a majority, or a large plurality of Members of Consei-Estadi.

It is not a legal requirement for a Lord High Chancellor to be a member of Rieshistagi. Usually for practical and political reasons, the Lord High Chancellor is expected to win a seat very shortly. In rare circumstances, individuals who are not sitting members of the Consei-Estadi can be appointed to the position of Lord High Chancellor. This convention has since evolved towards the appointment of an interim leader from the Consei-Estadi in such a scenario.

If a serving Lord High Chancellor lose his or her seat in the legislature, or a new Lord High Chancellor be appointed without holding a seat, the process usually follows that a junior member of a governing political party will resign to allow the Lord High Chancellor to run in the resulting by-election.

Role and authority
In practice, the Lord High Chancellor is the most politically powerful member of the Imperial government and is often erroneously referred as the Sovereign Empire's Head of State. In fact, the role of the Head of State is held by the Imperial Diarchy, a two-person body of monarchs. The Lord High Chancellor is instead the Head of Government and is responsible for advising the Diarchy on how to exercise the Imperial Prerogative and its executive powers which is governed by the constitution and its conventions.

Despite moves to consolidate powers of the Lord High Chancellor, the Diarchy held significant political powers over the Rieshistagi. The Constitution allows the Diarchs to wield executive authority over the Rieshistagi. Through the Diarchs, they can dissolve the Rieshistagi, pass or veto legislation (if the said legislation violates the Constitution), and dismiss military leaders without government advise.

Privileges
Two official residences are provided to the Lord High Chancellor, 10 Oliver Street in Rien-Stadt, C.D.R. and the Inari Lake Residence, a country retreat in Lake Inari, as well an office in the East Block across Populue Palati.