Hall of the Tower
From A Wheel of Time Wiki
The Hall of the Tower is the central council of the Aes Sedai responsible for making policy and implementing the Amyrlin Seat's decrees. It is comprised of three Sitters from each Ajah and is presided over by the Amyrlin Seat. However, the Amyrlin may not enter the Hall unless announced by the Keeper of the Chronicles, who may not enter the Hall without the Amyrlin.
There are currently two Halls, one in the Tower loyal to Elaida a'Roihan and the Rebel Hall loyal to Egwene al'Vere. Each Hall has only 18 members as opposed to the usual 21; however, this is only official in the Tower, where Elaida has decreed the Blue Ajah out of existence.
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[edit] Membership
Each Ajah is represented by three Sitters, chosen by the Ajah according to its rules and customs. It is unusual for a sister to take a seat in the Hall before wearing the shawl for 70 years, and generally do not serve after having previously served. The Amyrlin may require the resignation of one or more Sitters, but Ajahs are free to return those Sitters. Amyrlins have at least four times called for the resignation of the entire Hall. Twice, a new or mostly new Hall was appointed, but the other two times ended in the resignation and exile of the Amyrlin.[1]
[edit] Voting
There are two forms of agreement: the greater consensus and the lesser consensus. For a matter to pass with the greater consensus, all sisters present must stand for it. In addition, a majority of the Hall (traditionally 11 members) must be present, including at least one from each Ajah. An exception to the latter requirement is a vote to remove an Amyrlin or Keeper of the Chronicles, in which case the officer's Ajah will not be informed until after the vote.
The lesser consensus requires a two-thirds of the Sitters to stand and also has a quorum of 11. Unlike the greater consensus, though, it does not require that each Ajah be represented.
A further voting system, which consists of two rounds, is used to raise an Amyrlin. On the first round of voting, the woman seeking the Amyrlin Seat must receive the support of at least half of the Sitters to escape outright rejection. If all Sitters stand, she is elected without needing a second round. If a second round is required, the woman must receive a unanimous vote. Despite requiring unanimity, a vote to raise an Amyrlin is distinct from the greater consensus. For example, it does not require that all Ajahs be present. When Elaida was raised in the Tower, and when Egwene was raised in Salidar, an Ajah was missing (the Blue and Red, respectively).
| Spoilers: Information ahead comes from The Gathering Storm; please be careful if you have not read that book yet! |
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| When Egwene is raised in the Tower, neither the Blue nor the Red is represented. In addition, Egwene thinks to herself that under the old rules, eleven Sitters were not enough to raise an Amyrlin, but that "now only eleven were required". Thus, a higher quorum is another difference from the greater consensus. Because 11 is approximately 61% of 18, it is likely that 13 (approximately 61% of 21) is the usual quorum for raising an Amyrlin. |
[edit] See also
- Amyrlin Seat
- Keeper of the Chronicles
- Hall of the Tower under Elaida a'Roihan
- Rebel Hall of the Tower
- Hall of the Tower under Siuan Sanche
