I thought the question was about how to reconcile the inconsistent references to Chancellor Kesh vs. Chancellor Gorkon. How did this become about Gowron?
Klingon chancellor Kesh (minor spoilers for Forged in Fire)
- Thread starter ToddCam
- Start date
Granted this, but the keyword would be "was". Councillor is an elected position, and Gowron would thus probably go in and out of the High Council as his support rose and fell due to his controversial opposition politics. And during K'Mpec's last years, he'd simply be out.
That is, I don't see a pressing reason to claim that one could ascend to Chancellorship without ever being a Councillor first. Martok did it, but his ascent was exotic in so many other ways as well that I don't think it hints to the exeption being the norm. To the contrary, probably.
Timo Saloniemi
One thing to keep in mind, come to think of it, is that calling Gowron "Chancellor" is a bit of a retcon. Originally in TNG, the head of the High Council was just called "Council Leader," IIRC. It was only later that the title "Chancellor" from ST VI was equated with that position.
Er, no it isn't. Kurn was appointed to the Council by Gowron in exchange for his support during the civil war against Lursa and B'Etor. For that matter, Gowron offered to appoint K'Ehleyr to the Council in "Reunion."
And I don't see a pressing reason to claim that one can't. To throw out another example from onscreen, there was the guy who challenged Gowron on the council chamber floor in "Redemption." If that guy had won -- and he was just a ship captain, not a councillor -- he would've become chancellor. It was clear in that episode, as well as "Tacking Into the Wind," that anyone who challenges the chancellor and wins takes his place, which means you assuredly don't have to be a councillor first.
^^They're Klingons. I bet Klingon mailmen spend a lot of time defending their positions.
^That brings a whole new perspective to the phrase "going postal". 
Klingon #1: "Any true Klingon knows that page 38 of the Kama Sutra is the best position there is!"
Klingon #2: "You mewling targ-bait! It is page 84 which is worthiest of a Klingon warrior!"
Klingon #1, drawing his d'k tahg: "Peta'Q! I'll cut you up so badly you'll be able to perform page 57 on yourself!"
Idiosyncraticly yours, Trent Roman
Ah, all right. It's just that the novels discussed did make the explicit claim that the position was elected. Although I doubt it was ever meant to be "elected by a general vote": the standard Klingon election process would no doubt involve sharp knives, curses, and draft animals for clearing the floor afterwards.
And "elected" in the broader sense of "invited in when qualified and in favor" would still have the feature that Councillors would come and go and then perhaps come again, nullifying the chronological-causal issues of the novels.
Timo Saloniemi
Where did the novels say it was an elected position?
As said, I have to rely on what has been quoted here. And one of the things stated by EmperorKalan was this: "In the Name of Honor also refers to Gorkon as a 'recently elected' member of the council".
I'd guess "elected" really just means "selected", not by the majority but by the factually most powerful faction or person.
Timo Saloniemi
I'd guess "elected" really just means "selected", not by the majority but by the factually most powerful faction or person.
Timo Saloniemi
That's why one cultivates a loyal faction. Maybe anyone can challenge, but unless one has a certain level of status in order to compel some minimal level of support and loyalty, one isn't going to last long.I bet the Chancellors must spend alot of time defending their position, then.
Full disclosure notice: that infomation was from an editorial note on Gorkon's Memory Beta page, highlighting the discrepency between Harbinger and In the Name of Honor. I'm not able to comment on the novel itself, not having read it yet.
However, there is not necessarily a discrepency on the elected v. appointed issue: While obviously the Chancellor/Council Leader is able to appoint at least some council seats, it's not clear if he appoints all of them. Either he doesn't, or his choices are constrained in some way by powerful factions. For those seats he doesn't control, they'd be selected some other way. And "elected" doesn't necessarily mean by a democratic election -- the Holy Roman Emperors were elected, but by high-nobility Electors, not by the general public. If nothing else, The Articles of the Federation established the Klingons don't have anything comparable to general elections.
So it's possible some seats are elected (by, for instance, groups of house-heads from Houses that aren't individually powerful enough to command a council seat, but are powerful enough collectively).
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For all we know, "elections" are held for the High Council via a grueling, to-the-death tournament of Rock/Parchment/Bat'leth, but I think we can agree that some form of selection/consensus has to take place for members of the High Council -- though likely not public elections as we understand them. Otherwise, they'd spend every waking moment defending their seat and nothing would ever get accomplished except for the killing of present and hopeful Council members.
(Now, if Congress worked like that, I'd spend more time watching C-SPAN.)
(Now, if Congress worked like that, I'd spend more time watching C-SPAN.)
How do you kill someone with a parchment? Strangulation? Smothering? Death by a thousand paper cuts?
Well, if you like....I'd be happy to demonstrate (if not on you, then some filk singer in the bar) next year at Shore Leave 
(Wait....the filk singer idea has possibilities....)
(Wait....the filk singer idea has possibilities....)
I should've known better than to ask...
I'll teach you the ancient art of parchment assassination, if you'll teach me the secret to getting funny internet stalkers. Deal? Afterward, we'll team up and fight crime.
(Oh, but I have to drive. Sorry, just a thing with me.)
(Oh, but I have to drive. Sorry, just a thing with me.)
Doesn't bat'leth beat everything in that game, though?