The Advisory Council (), also known as the Government Advisory Council, Political Advisory Council, or Political Advisory Board, was a preparatory body for the parliament established in 1910. It was part of the New Policies in the late Qing dynasty, of which the Qing court was moving toward the implementation of a constitution. In September 1907, the Guangxu Emperor promulgated a decree on the setting up of the Advisory Council, following by the provincial Consultative Bureaus in October.
The Advisory Council was established on 6 November 1906, and formally opened on 10 October 1910, after the first parliamentary election in last October. The council was dissolved on 12 February 1912 along with the end of the Qing dynasty, and was replaced by the Provisional Senate of the Republic of China.
History After the Boxer Protocol was signed in 1901, the Qing court returned to its capital of Beijing eager to reform the realm's governance. In around August 1906, the Guangxu Emperor declared the start of preparative constitutionalism after the study by the Constitutionalism Commission on foreign politics. Two months later, Yikuang, Prince Qing, recommended forming an Advisory Council to prepare for the institution of a parliament. On 6 November 1906, the Emperor issued an edict to revamp the governmental institutions, including the establishment of Advisory Council.
On 20 September 1907, the Emperor appointed Pulun and Sun Jialun as joint Presidents of the council, and delegated to them the writing of its charter. In August 1908, the electoral system of the Council and the Provincial Assemblies were approved and governors of provinces were asked to hold relevant elections within a year. Half of the Council members were elected by members of the Assemblies, while the other half were appointed by the imperial court.
The Council and the Commission further jointly agreed to a nine-year plan for installing constitutionalism. Provincial Assemblies were formed in 1908, with elections of the Assemblies and the Council to be held a year later. The council was to be convened and formally opened in 1910. The constitution of the state, Parliamentary Law, Parliamentary Election Law, and election of the bicameral members were expected in 1916. By then constitutional monarchy would have formally replaced absolute monarchy.
The elections of the Council and Provincial Assemblies held as laid down in the plan. The bicameral parliament, however, did not come into existence as Qing dynasty was overthrown and Emperor Puyi forced to abdicate in 1912.
Session The Council convened for the first time on 3 October 1910, with the President declaring it as "the unprecedented grand ceremony" in the Chinese history. All 196 members of the council were divided evenly in 6 divisions, followed by election of division head () and director ().
The second meeting marked the state opening of the council, attending by the regent and virtually all ministers of the court. Attendants first kowtowed to the throne. The regent then announced the edict and addressed the council. The Council agreed the President and the Vice President to present a humble address to thank His Majesty on behalf of the members. The meeting subsequently ended.
A total of 42 meetings were held, 9 of which was after the extension of the council's session.
On 18 December, the Council presented humble address (palace memorial) to the court over forming cabinet as responsibilities of Grand Council were unclear, which the court denounced as "interference by councillors" and insisted the court shall decide on matters of such. On 30 December, the Council presented another address to urge ending the policy of Manchu hairstyle and clothing.
According to the records of proceedings, the council was closed on 11 January 1911 without the attendance of the regent. The edict was announced and the President kowtowed to the throne, marking the end of the first session of the council.
However, the Council continued deliberation. On 25 January 1911, part of the new criminal code was promulgated after adoption by the council. Two days later, the standardised treasury regulation was adopted by the council, along with the 1911 (Xuantong Year 2) budget on the next day. During the Railway Protection protest, the Council passed resolution against government's nationalisation plan, which was in turn rejected.
The second session of the Council started on 22 October 1911, days after outbreak of 1911 revolution. The Council recommended sacking of Sheng Xuanhuai as Minister of Mail for "violating rights, breaking laws, deceiving the Emperor", and calling him as the one "damaging the empire the most", which was agreed by the Emperor. Eight days later, the Council called for replacing the cabinet of Princes and to be completely responsible with non-royals as ministers of state, which was agreed by the court. On 3 November, Nineteen Articles were announced by the court after the Council voiced support for constitutional monarchy. The Charter of the council was amended on 20 November. On 27 October, upon recommendation from the council, the court finally repealed ban on Han hairstyle and costume and replaced lunar calendar with solar calendar.
One of the last acts of the council was the election of Yuan Shikai as the Prime Minister. The council was dissolved upon the end of the Qing dynasty.
Power According to the Charter of the Council amended on 3 July 1911 –Article 14: Advisory Council shall decide on matters of –
Financial budgets on income and expenditure of the state; Final accounts on income and expenditure of the state; Taxation and public debt; Legislations and amendments thereof, except constitution; and Other issues upon directives by extraordinary edicts.
Article 15: Motions under subsection 1 to 4 of the aforesaid article shall be drafted and presented by cabinet ministers, and submit to the Council at meetings. Advisory Council, however, can draft and present motions at its initiative for matters under subsection 3 and subsection 4.
Article 16: Resolutions on matters particularised in Article 14 by the Advisory Council shall be presented by President or Vice President upon consultation with cabinet ministers for decisions by the Emperor.
Members Some members resigned during the session and the vacancies were filled according to the precedence list. +List of senior officials of the Advisory CouncilPositionMemberPortraitTerm startTerm endPresident20 September 190722 March 1911Sun Jianai20 September 190730 November 190922 March 191130 October 191130 October 191126 January 191226 January 191212 February 1912Vice PresidentShen Jiaben15 September 191028 January 191122 March 191130 October 191130 October 19112 February 1912Assistant Vice President(協理)20 January 1907December 190920 January 19076 July 190820 January 1907191120 January 1907191123 September 190914 April 1910??Manager()190819111908191119081911Secretary General?2 February 1912 +List of members of the Advisory CouncilMemberPeeragePortraitConstituencyPartyNotes1Prince RuiPrinces of Imperial Family2Prince ZhuangPrinces of Imperial Family3NelehePrince ShunchengPrinces of Imperial Family4Venerable PrincePrinces of Imperial Family5Venerable PrincePrinces of Imperial Family6Defender Duke by GracePrinces of Imperial Family7Defender Duke by GracePrinces of Imperial Family8Bulwark Duke by GracePrinces of Imperial Family9DukePrinces of Imperial Family10ZaizhenBanner Prince,Defender GeneralPrinces of Imperial Family11Defender GeneralPrinces of Imperial Family12Supporter GeneralPrinces of Imperial Family13Defender GeneralPrinces of Imperial Family14GeneralPrinces of Imperial Family15Prince of the BloodPrinces of Feudatories16Prince of the BloodPrinces of Feudatories17Prince of CommanderyPrinces of Feudatories18GungsangnorbuPrince of CommanderyPrinces of Feudatories19Prince of CommanderyPrinces of Feudatories20Prince of CommanderyPrinces of Feudatories21Prince of CommanderyPrinces of Feudatories22Prince of CommanderyPrinces of Feudatories23Prince of CommanderyPrinces of Feudatories24Banner PrincePrinces of FeudatoriesResignedMijiddorjiin KhanddorjPrince of the BloodSucceeded in 27th meeting25Bulwark DukePrinces of Feudatories26Defender DukePrinces of Feudatories27Bulwark DukePrinces of Feudatories28Bulwark DukePrinces of Feudatories29DukeNobilities of Manchu and Han30DukeNobilities of Manchu and Han31DukeNobilities of Manchu and Han32DukeNobilities of Manchu and Han33DukeNobilities of Manchu and Han34MarquessNobilities of Manchu and Han35MarquessNobilities of Manchu and Han36MarquessNobilities of Manchu and Han37ViscountNobilities of Manchu and Han38ViscountNobilities of Manchu and Han39BaronNobilities of Manchu and Han40BaronNobilities of Manchu and Han41UksunDescendants of Emperor42UksunDescendants of Emperor43UksunDescendants of Emperor44UksunDescendants of Emperor45GioroDescendants of Emperor46GioroDescendants of Emperor47Government Officials48Government Officials49Government Officials50Government Officials51Government Officials52Government Officials53Government Officials (1911–)54Government Officials55Government OfficialsResigned in 7th meetingSucceeded in 17th meeting56Government Officials57Government Officials58Government Officials59Government Officials60Government Officials61Government Officials62Government Officials"Leading member of appointed members"63Government Officials64Government Officials65Government Officials66Government Officials (1911–)67Government Officials68Government Officials69Government Officials70Ke ShaominGovernment Officials71Government Officials72Government Officials73Government Officials74Government officialsResignedLu ZongyuSucceeded in 17th meeting75Government officials76Government officials77Government officials78Government officials79Wu Shijian ()Scholars80Scholars81Scholars82Chen BaochenScholars83Shen JiabenScholarsAppointed as Vice President of the Council84Yen FuScholars85ScholarsResignedSucceeded in 17th meeting86Scholars87Scholars (Conservative)88Scholars89Large Taxpayers90Large Taxpayers91Large Taxpayers92Large Taxpayers93Large Taxpayers (1911–)94Large Taxpayers95Large Taxpayers96Large Taxpayers (1911–)97Large Taxpayers98Large Taxpayers99Fengtian100Fengtian101Shuming ()Fengtian102Qing Shan ()Jilin103Jilin104Gui Shan ()Heilongjiang105Heilongjiang106Zhili107Zhili108Zhili109Zhili110Zhili111Zhili112Zhili113Zhili114Zhili115Jiangsu (Moderate)Later appointed as President116Jiangsu"Leading member amongst elected members"117Jiangsu"Leading member of the Council"118Jiangsu119Jiangsu120Jiangsu121Fang Huan ()Jiangsu122Jiang QianAnhui123Anhui124Anhui125Anhui126Anhui (1911–)127Kiangsi (Conservative)128Kiangsi129Kiangsi130Kiangsi131KiangsiResignedSucceeded in 3rd meeting132Kiangsi133Chekiang134Chekiang135Chekiang136Chekiang137Chekiang138Chekiang139Chekiang140Fukien141Fukien142Fukien143Fukien144Hupeh145Hupeh146Hupeh147Hupeh148HupehCharged and resignedSucceeded in 3rd meeting149Hunan150Hunan151HunanDied in office (1911–)Succeeded in 3rd meeting152Hunan153Hunan (Radical)Spoken the most in first session154Shantung155Shantung156Shantung (1911–)157Shantung158Shantung159Shantung160Honan161Honan162Honan163Honan164Honan165ShansiResigned in 12th meetingSucceeded in 14th meeting166Shansi167ShansiCharged and resignedSucceeded in 3rd meeting168ShansiCharged and resigned (1911–)Succeeded in 3rd meeting169Shansi170Shensi171Shensi172Shensi173Shensi174Kansu175Kansu176Kansu177Sichuan (1911–)178Sichuan179Sichuan180Sichuan181Sichuan182Sichuan183Kwangtung184Kwangtung185Kwangtung186Kwangtung187Kwangtung188KwangsiDied in officeSucceeded in 3rd meeting189Kwangsi190Kwangsi (Radical)191YunnanResigned before 3rd meeting192Yunnan193Yunnan194Yunnan195KweichowDiedSucceeded196Kweichow (1911–)
Supplementary members include: (27 May 1911 appointed) (27 May 1911 appointed) (27 May 1911 appointed) (27 May 1911 appointed) (22 July 1911 appointed) (22 July 1911 appointed) (22 July 1911 appointed)