00:00As for political affairs, they were reserved for the High Council, composed of a small number of men.
00:04'State, at the king's discretion.'
00:06This reform allows the Council to refocus on political and administrative affairs.
00:11But even with such reduced responsibilities, there is a need to create specialized training programs.
00:17Francis I created a Council of Affairs, a restricted body including the chancellor, a secretary of commands, the ancestor of the secretaries of
00:25'State, and a few close associates.
00:26It is this rather informal body that makes pronouncements on general policy, diplomacy, and war.
00:33The High Council was separate from the Council of State. It dealt exclusively with political matters.
00:38He is responding to what is now called the Council of Ministers.
00:41Furthermore, the High Council had jurisdictional rights. It heard appeals from the Council of State.
00:47The decisions of the High Council were countersigned by a Secretary of State.
