Council of Officers

Council of Officers (Rada starshyn). One of the agencies of the central government in the Hetman state (1648–1764), which functioned alongside the hetman and the General Military Council, particularly under hetmans Ivan Samoilovych and Ivan Mazepa. The powers of the Council of Officers and the General Military Council were not clearly divided, and the first often acted for the second. Besides dealing with the most important legislative, administrative, and judicial problems, the Council of Officers was especially concerned with state finances. It convened regularly to advise the hetman's General Officer Staff. Its assemblies were usually held at the hetman's residence during Christmas and Easter holidays. Sometimes delegations of regimental officers and even Notable military fellows participated in the assemblies. The Council of Officers can be viewed as a unique estate parliament.