His Grace has many cares: he entrusts some small matters to us, that we might lighten the load.

The small council is a body which advises the King of the Seven Kingdoms and institutes policy at his command. It is the inner (thus "small") council of the King, effectively forming the government cabinet of the Seven Kingdoms. Members are appointed to their position by the King; theoretically they can be dismissed at will by the King, however in practice this might lead to undesirable political fallout. Either the King or his Hand, or the Regent should the King be a minor, chairs the council and takes note of its recommendations. The Hand is the head of the council and serves as the king's proxy when he is not present. Only the King can make the council's decisions into law.