A Parcel of Rogues in a Nation: On the Great Councils, Part II

Seemingly for the first time in recorded history, lords from all over Westeros had gathered together. The greatest Targaryen king in history had summoned them together to provide a peaceful mechanism for deciding the succession of the Iron Throne. And thanks to the fecklessness of Viserys I, their work would make a peace that would last only 28 years.
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A Parcel of Rogues in a Nation: the Great Councils of Westeros (Part I)

credit to Marc Simonetti The “game of thrones” has become such a powerful symbol in the broader ASOIAF fandom that our perceptions of how Westerosi politics function have been distorted by it, resulting in an imaginary that is far too authoritarian and top-down. The King of Westeros is not an absolute monarch, nor is it normal for liege lords to wipe out entire houses for disloyalty. Rather,…

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I have come questions regarding the permanent parliament-like Great Council. 1) How would it be organized? Do only the Lords Paramount get seats, or their primary vassals as well? 2) Would these Lords be required to attend in person, or will representatives suffice? 3) Would this Council be held on a daily basis? 4) Can someone get a seat on both the Small and Great Councils?

1. Don’t know, exactly. Tradition so far is that it’s all of the lords in Westeros, full stop.

2. Well, traditionally they have, but you can’t look after your fief and attend, so if there were a permanent system, you’d need some mechanism of sending a representative – probably a younger brother or son or an uncle or cousin.

3. Probably not. If medieval to early modern Parliaments are any judge, they’d meet for a couple of months (fifty days being the minimum under the Triennial Act of 1641) out of the year, because people need to travel to get there and back, see their families, etc.

4. Well, if someone on the Small Council is a lord by right as opposed to by courtesy, they have a right to sit on the Great Council.