Editing Quorum of Twelve (TOS)

{{disline|For information on its [[Battlestar Galactica (TRS)|Re-imagined Series]] counterpart, see [[Quorum of Twelve (TRS)]]. For information on this and other facets of the government of the Original Series, see [[Government of the Twelve Colonies (TOS)]].}}

{{disambiguation|Quorum of Twelve (TOS alternate)|this entity from [[BW:SEPCON|separate continuity]] sources}}

[[File:Quorum.jpg|thumb|[[Uri|Sire Uri]] addresses the Quorum {{OS|Saga of a Star World}}.]]
The '''Quorum of Twelve''', also known as "The Council of Twelve" or "The Council," is a group of politicians who gather together to make up the laws and practices for the people of The [[Twelve Colonies of Man|Twelve Colonies]].

The Quorum consists of one representative from each colony and is presided over by the President.  Each representative, as well as the President, is elected to their position.

The Quorum members were usually given a [[Seal of the Lords]] as a symbol of their position in the Colonial Government. But the Seals were apparently lost over time, and Commander {{TOS|Adama}} of battlestar ''{{TOS|Galactica}}'' and Lord {{TOS|Baltar}} possessed the last two Seals {{OS|Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I}}.

After the destruction of the Twelve Colonies and the death of President [[Adar (TOS)|Adar]], Commander Adama, of the planet Caprica, is installed as interim leader of The Council, operating under martial law.  The council can still make laws and practices but Adama controls the overall actions of the Council.

The council does try to take control again when The [[Eastern Alliance]] prisoners are taken into custody aboard ''Galactica''.  But when the Alliance prisoners, along with {{TOS|Baltar}} and three [[Borellian Nomen]] try to escape and use the council as hostages, the council gives control back to Adama {{OS|Baltar's Escape}}.

==Known Members==

* [[Adama_(TOS)|Commander Adama]]
* [[Uri|Sire Uri]]
* [[Anton|Sire Anton]]
* [[Domra|Sire Domra]]
* [[Geller|Sire Geller]]
* [[Tinia|Siress Tinia]]
* [[Unnamed_characters_(TOS)#Statesman_No._1|Unnamed Statesman #1]]
* [[Unnamed_characters_(TOS)#Statesman_No._2|Unnamed Statesman #2]]

=== Former Members ===
* [[Baltar (TOS)|Count Baltar]]
* [[Adar (TOS)|President Adar]]
* [[Xavier|Commander Xavier]] (from ''[[Galactica 1980]]'')

=== Tie-in Material Information ===
* ''According to ''[[Encyclopedia Galactica]]'' (a non-canonical piece of merchandise published in 1979):''
: The Quorum of the Twelve is the governing body of humankind and is composed of one representative of each of the Great Colonies. The Quorum first met in [[4998]], shortly after the rediscovery of interstellar travel. Throughout most of its history, the Quorum remained an august, dignified body with little practical power. Each of the Colonies had its own deeply-rooted traditions and concerns and was unwilling to submit any important questions for resolution by the group.

: For centuries, Councilorship on the Quorum of the Twelve was limited to [[burticians]]. It is ironic that the Quorum attained real power only under the leadership of its first peasant member, [[Adar (TOS)|Adar]]. Near the end of the [[Great Cylon War]], the Quorum not only controlled all human military operations through the [[Intercolonial Strategic Council]], but also directed all economic production and transport as well. Improved communications led to exchanges of literature and entertainment that were beginning to reunite humankind into one people once again.

: The Quorum continues to govern the survivors of the [[Final Destruction]] in the Battlestar ''[[Galactica (TOS)|Galactica]]''<nowiki/>'s fleet under the leadership of Councilor [[William Adama|Adama]]. <ref>{{cite_book|last=Kraus|first=Bruce|authorlink=|authorlinkurl=|coauthors=|year=1979|title=[[Encyclopedia Galactica]]|publisher=|location=|id=|pages=47}}</ref>

==Notes==
* The name, "Quorum of Twelve," comes from the ruling body of the [[wikipedia:Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (a.k.a. Mormons).  [[Glen A. Larson]] was raised Mormon and used several ideas and terms from that church in creating ''Battlestar Galactica''.  The primary difference between the two groups is that the Twelve in ''Battlestar Galactica'' have a mostly political role (with only ceremonial religious duties) whereas the Mormon leadership is unelected and primarily religious in character.
* In the [[Saga of a Star World (Book)|novelization of "Saga of a Star World,"]] Sire Uri is noted to be speaking to a Councilman [[Lobe]] of [[Piscera]] whilst on Carillon about the possibility of settling on the planet. The on-screen version of this scene shows the unnamed Statesman portrayed by [[Norman Stuart]] as being the individual Uri is speaking to about the above scene from the novel, though it is uncertain if this is a canon source.
* In the novelization of "War of the Gods," a man named Sire [[Montrose]] is identified as a member of the Quorum who speaks to his surprise of Count Iblis being seemingly aware of their decisions and later on asking to confirm the mysterious being's leadership over the Colonials. The on-screen version of these scenes shows the unnamed Statesman portrayed by [[John Williams]] as being this exact individual, with IMDB and certain sites identifying him as Montrose, though this is uncertain if this is a canon source. Montrose would later appear in Maximum Press's [[War of Eden]].
* It is worth noting that in "Baltar's Escape" that the Council of Twelve had more than twelve members considering the absence of Siress Tinia when the council members were taken hostage by Baltar and the others.

== References ==
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[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial Society]]
[[Category:Colonial Society (TOS)]]
[[Category:Colonial Government]]
[[Category:Colonial Government (TOS)]]
[[Category:Organizations]]
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