Council of Women

The Council of Women is the provisional head of state of the Dark Berry Islands. Established in 1704 by Sofia Fasthey following her election to the leader of the government-in-exile of the DBI during the Dark Berry Islands civil war, it consists of five women who together share the role of the head of state.

Roles

Together, the five members of the Council of Women hold the executive, and any decision taken by them must meet a majority (including the vote of the chairwomen, unless that vote is a motion of confidence in the chairwoman). They are tasked with the sole responsibility of foreign affairs, but must also approve any bills passed through the lower house of government. They can pass through any bill they like without consultation in the lower house, although the lower house can implement a veto if a majority demand a vote and a supermajority (67%) oppose the law.

Chamber of Berries

The room in which the Council of Women meets is known as the Chamber of Berries and is a grand and opulent space, befitting the organization's status and influence. The walls are adorned with ornate frescoes and tapestries, depicting scenes of the great beauty and historical significance of the islands. Large windows allow natural light to flood the room, highlighting the intricate details of the paintings and sculptures that decorate the space. The centrepiece of the room is a large, round table made of rich, polished wood. The table is surrounded by high-backed chairs, each adorned with a plush cushion for comfort during long meetings. At the head of the table sits a large, intricately carved chair, reserved for the Chairwoman of the Council. The room is designed to convey a sense of power and authority, with a subdued colour palette of deep reds and golds adding to the overall sense of grandeur. The acoustics of the room are also carefully designed to ensure that every voice can be heard clearly, facilitating open and productive discussions among the council members. Despite its grandeur, the room is not mysterious and is well-known to the public, serving as a symbol of the Council of Women's commitment to transparency and accountability in their decision-making processes, with the Council making an effort to provide accessibility to general public following the end of the civil war.

Members

The Council is made up of five women, who each share a distinct role. In 1719, a further ten deputy councillors were elected, not limited purely to women, to serve on six year term mandates. The council was initially comprised of Sofia Fasthey and her four closest political allies; Elizabeth Georgina Giannoulis, Alexis Jakes, Florence Townley and Ember Whitethorne. Whilst elections took place in 1710 and 1715 for re-election, during which all five councillors won re-election, reforms in 1716 now mean that the councillros would not change unless either a member resigned, impeached or voted out (with elections only called if 20% of citizens sign a petition or 3 of the other members of the Council agree to bring about a vote of confidence). Furthermore, another ten deputy councillors would be elected, with positions not restricted to women, and would allow for a government minister to be put in charge of a specific area of governance.

Alexis Jakes resigned from the council in 1719, with Ebeni Burton elected in to replace her as the first non-Sofian councillor.

Picture	Name Year of birth Place of birth	Role	Years served
	Sofia Fasthey 1678 Peaks-of-the-Gods	Chairwoman	1704–
	Elizabeth Georgina Giannoulis 1679 Mountainview Bay	Deputy-Chairwoman	1704–
	Florence Townley 1681 Portham Ferry	Councillor	1704–
	Amber "Ember" Whitethorne 1678 Harbourvale	Councillor	1704–
	Ebeni Burton 1697 Mountainview Bay	Clerk	1719–

Deputy councillors

Deputy councillors were introduced following a reform bill in 1716, designed to decrease the workload on the main councillors. These ten are elected every six years and are not restricted to just women. The first elections for deputy councillors were held in 1719, with the elected councillors, five from each island, sworn in later that year. So far only two men have ever served as deputy councillors.

Councillor	Island ward	Years served
Myles Anderton	North	1719–
Sienna Chester	North	1719–
Alex Hand	North	1719–
Abbey Hawking	North	1719–
Dominica Salt	North	1725–
Lucy Chesterton	South	1719–
Imogen Pincham	South	1725–
Nelly Forster	South	1719–
Charlotte Warmth	South	1725–
Tula Dooley	South	1725–
Lilian Tuft	North	1719–1725
Jessica Dyer	South	1719–1725
Keara Halliday	South	1719–1725
David Strongman	South	1719–1725

Past members

Picture	Name Year of birth Place of birth	Role(s)	Years served
	Alexis Jakes 1679 Grapeseed	Councillor	1704–1719

Authority

The council of women was able to impose its legal authority on the Dark Berry Islands as and when areas of the island were taken from the eventually disposed Oswin Fasthey during the civil war.