Hall of the Tower
Encyclopedia
In Robert Jordan
's Wheel of Time
universe, the Hall of the Tower is the supreme governing body of the Aes Sedai
of the White Tower.
. Little is known about the process by which an Ajah selects its Sitters, but as a Sitter's position is one of great privilege, a vacancy in an Ajah's delegation will usually be filled by one of the oldest and most powerful Aes Sedai of that Ajah.
There are no general election
s for the Hall, and there is no indication of fixed terms for Sitters. Once chosen, however, there are several ways a Sitter's place can become vacant. These include:
. The Hall may choose any woman who can channel to be the Amyrlin, though historically it has tended to be conservative in its choices, with recent Amyrlins being mature women, strong in the One Power.
The Hall may also depose an Amyrlin Seat. There appears to be a precedent that the Hall should only depose an Amyrlin for a serious offence under Tower law or for gross misgovernment, but no legal requirement that a specific offence be proven.
The Hall also has a general legislative power. It can make laws and formulate policy for the White Tower and Aes Sedai, and presumably also for the city of Tar Valon.
It is possible that, when there is no Amyrlin Seat (i.e., between the death or deposition of one and the election of her successor), the Hall also carries on the executive government of the Tower.
A declaration of war by the White Tower requires the lesser consensus, which is twelve Sitters standing for the declaration.
Based on information in The Path of Daggers
, it seems that most meetings of the Hall are presided over by the Amyrlin Seat; the exceptions being where there is no Amyrlin Seat, or to discuss the deposition of the Amyrlin. However, the Keeper of the Chronicles seems to act as a Chair at meetings, for example, by putting questions to the Hall and calling for votes. It is unclear to what extent this was usual practice, though; the inexperience of Egwene al'Vere
as Amyrlin may have led her Keeper, Sheriam Bayanar, to take an unusually large role in proceedings. Meetings may also be Sealed this making that the only people present can be the Sitters, Amyrlin, Keeper and any witnesses, informants, acccused, recognized authorities or any person(s) pertaining to the meeting.
Voting in the Hall takes place by Sitters in favour of a motion rising from their seats and remaining standing until either the required number of votes is obtained, or the chair decides that the motion fails.
On many matters, supermajorities
are required. For example, a declaration of war
or permission for the Amyrlin Seat to put herself in danger require the lesser consensus, which is eleven Sitters standing for the motion. There also exists a greater consensus, which is possibly a unanimous vote. It is unknown whether the Hall can decide laws and policy on simple majorities.
At times meetings may be called in haste and not all members need be present, however the lesser consensus is still eleven Sitters. Examples of this happening are the impeachment of Siuan Sanche
and Egwene
's surrender of War Powers for the ability to be sole negotiater for rulers.
for her support of the Dragon Reborn led to the formation of two rival groups of Aes Sedai, each of which has its own Hall of the Tower. Elaida's
faction, in control of Tar Valon, has no members of the Blue Ajah, which is therefore unrepresented in that Hall. Conversely, the Salidar group contains no members of the Red Ajah, so the Salidar Hall has no Red sitters.
Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan was the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr. , under which he was best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Reagan O'Neal and Jackson O'Reilly.-Biography:Jordan was born in Charleston, South Carolina...
's Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time is a series of epic fantasy novels written by American author James Oliver Rigney, Jr., under the pen name Robert Jordan. Originally planned as a six-book series, the length was increased by increments; at the time of Rigney's death, he expected it to be 12, but it will actually...
universe, the Hall of the Tower is the supreme governing body of the Aes Sedai
Aes Sedai
The Aes Sedai are a special society in the fictional universe of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time book series. Aes Sedai means "Servant to All" in the Old Tongue. They are the wielders of the One Power...
of the White Tower.
Composition
The Hall typically consists of 21 members, called Sitters. (Hence, the Hall is sometimes referred to as the Hall of the Sitters, though not in an official context.) Three Sitters represent each AjahAjah
Ajah may refer to:*A subdivision of Aes Sedai society, one of the Concepts in the Wheel of Time series see Ajah *Ajah *The American Journal of Ancient History...
. Little is known about the process by which an Ajah selects its Sitters, but as a Sitter's position is one of great privilege, a vacancy in an Ajah's delegation will usually be filled by one of the oldest and most powerful Aes Sedai of that Ajah.
There are no general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
s for the Hall, and there is no indication of fixed terms for Sitters. Once chosen, however, there are several ways a Sitter's place can become vacant. These include:
- Death
- Resignation
- Extended Vacancy from the White Tower (As determined by the Sitter's Ajah) this may or may not stem from the Ajah's own political interests (the sitter cannot vote while absent). The official reason is the suspected death of the sitter.
- Burnout (accidental loss of ability to use the One Power)
- Election to the post of Amyrlin SeatAmyrlin SeatThe Amyrlin Seat is a fictional title from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series.The Amyrlin Seat, or Amyrlin as it is often shortened to, is the leader of the Aes Sedai in Tar Valon. The term can also refer to the actual seat upon which the Amyrlin sits...
or Keeper of the ChroniclesKeeper of the ChroniclesKeeper of the Chronicles is a fictional title that exists in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time Series.Although second in authority to the Amyrlin, the Keeper of the Chronicles has no real authority over Aes Sedai, except what the Amyrlin Seat chooses to give her. She also acts as the Amyrlin's... - Unchairing, i.e., removal from office as punishment for an offence under Tower law (presumably by means of a court sentence and/or a vote of the Hall). Exile and Stilling, harsher punishments, would imply that the Sitter is unchaired.
- A Sitter's Ajah is almost certainly able to remove her on its own initiative, either by a formal procedure or by "encouraging" her to step down.
Powers
Notable among the Hall's powers is its ability to elect the Amyrlin SeatAmyrlin Seat
The Amyrlin Seat is a fictional title from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series.The Amyrlin Seat, or Amyrlin as it is often shortened to, is the leader of the Aes Sedai in Tar Valon. The term can also refer to the actual seat upon which the Amyrlin sits...
. The Hall may choose any woman who can channel to be the Amyrlin, though historically it has tended to be conservative in its choices, with recent Amyrlins being mature women, strong in the One Power.
The Hall may also depose an Amyrlin Seat. There appears to be a precedent that the Hall should only depose an Amyrlin for a serious offence under Tower law or for gross misgovernment, but no legal requirement that a specific offence be proven.
The Hall also has a general legislative power. It can make laws and formulate policy for the White Tower and Aes Sedai, and presumably also for the city of Tar Valon.
It is possible that, when there is no Amyrlin Seat (i.e., between the death or deposition of one and the election of her successor), the Hall also carries on the executive government of the Tower.
A declaration of war by the White Tower requires the lesser consensus, which is twelve Sitters standing for the declaration.
Procedure
The Hall can be summoned for extraordinary meetings by the Amyrlin Seat. In addition to this, it appears that there are more regular meetings for which no specific summons is necessary.Based on information in The Path of Daggers
The Path of Daggers
The Path of Daggers is the eighth book of The Wheel of Time fantasy series written by American author Robert Jordan. It was published by Tor Books and released on October 20, 1998...
, it seems that most meetings of the Hall are presided over by the Amyrlin Seat; the exceptions being where there is no Amyrlin Seat, or to discuss the deposition of the Amyrlin. However, the Keeper of the Chronicles seems to act as a Chair at meetings, for example, by putting questions to the Hall and calling for votes. It is unclear to what extent this was usual practice, though; the inexperience of Egwene al'Vere
Egwene al'Vere
Egwene al'Vere is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Description:She is described as beautiful, with large brown eyes and long dark hair. Like all adult women in her home village of Emond's Field, she initially wore her hair in a long braid, but as soon...
as Amyrlin may have led her Keeper, Sheriam Bayanar, to take an unusually large role in proceedings. Meetings may also be Sealed this making that the only people present can be the Sitters, Amyrlin, Keeper and any witnesses, informants, acccused, recognized authorities or any person(s) pertaining to the meeting.
Voting in the Hall takes place by Sitters in favour of a motion rising from their seats and remaining standing until either the required number of votes is obtained, or the chair decides that the motion fails.
On many matters, supermajorities
Supermajority
A supermajority or a qualified majority is a requirement for a proposal to gain a specified level or type of support which exceeds a simple majority . In some jurisdictions, for example, parliamentary procedure requires that any action that may alter the rights of the minority has a supermajority...
are required. For example, a declaration of war
Declaration of war
A declaration of war is a formal act by which one nation goes to war against another. The declaration is a performative speech act by an authorized party of a national government in order to create a state of war between two or more states.The legality of who is competent to declare war varies...
or permission for the Amyrlin Seat to put herself in danger require the lesser consensus, which is eleven Sitters standing for the motion. There also exists a greater consensus, which is possibly a unanimous vote. It is unknown whether the Hall can decide laws and policy on simple majorities.
At times meetings may be called in haste and not all members need be present, however the lesser consensus is still eleven Sitters. Examples of this happening are the impeachment of Siuan Sanche
Siuan Sanche
Siuan Sanche is a character of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.The sharp-tongued daughter of a fisherman from Tear, Siuan Sanche joined the White Tower at the same time as Moiraine Damodred...
and Egwene
Egwene al'Vere
Egwene al'Vere is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Description:She is described as beautiful, with large brown eyes and long dark hair. Like all adult women in her home village of Emond's Field, she initially wore her hair in a long braid, but as soon...
's surrender of War Powers for the ability to be sole negotiater for rulers.
Relationship between the Hall and the Amyrlin Seat
Ideally, the Hall and the Amyrlin Seat would work together for the good of the White Tower. However, in practice, there is often a power struggle between the Hall and the Amyrlin. Indeed, an Amyrlin's strength is usually measured by her ability to manage the Hall to achieve the results she wants. The Amyrlin can not actually break Tower law as enacted by the Hall, but has the power to make decrees on any subject not explicitly covered by existing laws. By the same token, the Hall can not actually revoke an Amyrlin's decrees or executive acts, but can, by constant inquiry into her conduct of affairs and opposition to her proposals, make her job exceedingly difficult.After the split in the White Tower
The deposition and stilling of Siuan SancheSiuan Sanche
Siuan Sanche is a character of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.The sharp-tongued daughter of a fisherman from Tear, Siuan Sanche joined the White Tower at the same time as Moiraine Damodred...
for her support of the Dragon Reborn led to the formation of two rival groups of Aes Sedai, each of which has its own Hall of the Tower. Elaida's
Elaida a'Roihan
Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan is an antagonist in the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Background:The youngest daughter of a minor House in the north of Murandy, Elaida was the first novice to be raised to Accepted in only three years. She was raised to the shawl after Siuan Sanche and...
faction, in control of Tar Valon, has no members of the Blue Ajah, which is therefore unrepresented in that Hall. Conversely, the Salidar group contains no members of the Red Ajah, so the Salidar Hall has no Red sitters.