Chamber of Ministers
The Bajoran Council of Ministers, also known as the Board of Ministers, Chamber of Ministers or the Bajoran Council, was the head of the Bajoran Provisional Government. Together with the Vedek Assembly the Chamber of Ministers decided on matters which concerned the whole of Bajor. (DS9: "Sanctuary")
While the crew of Deep Space 9 was under the influence of the Saltah'na energy spheres, in 2369, Odo attempted to contact both Starfleet Headquarters and the Bajoran Council to report the situation, but was unable to establish contact due to a communications lockout. (DS9: "Dramatis Personae")
In 2370, the Chamber of Ministers debated irrigating the Trilar Peninsula. Major Kira Nerys was present, and argued with Minister Rozahn for two days. (DS9: "Sanctuary")
For an individual to approach Benjamin Sisko directly, they would have to request permission through the Board of Ministers, a process that could take months to carry out. Doctor Mora Pol circumvented this process later that year by contacting Odo in person, who he had, in turn, ask for Sisko's permission to travel to the Gamma Quadrant to investigate the Changeling's origin. (DS9: "The Alternate")
Later that year, the Chamber of Ministers agreed to hand over three Cardassian dissidents – Natima Lang, Rekelen and Hogue – to the Cardassian Union in exchange for the release of a half-dozen Bajoran prisoners. (DS9: "Profit and Loss")
In 2373 the Council of Ministers voted to delay acceptance of Federation membership after Captain Benjamin Sisko warned that it was too soon to join, and that doing so would destroy Bajor. Sisko was later confronted by Admiral Charlie Whatley about contacting the Chamber of Ministers and try to convince them to change their minds, to tell them that it was a mistake. (DS9: "Rapture")
Later that year, the Council of Ministers debated signing a nonaggression pact offered by the Dominion. The pact was signed following its endorsement by the Emissary, who argued that it was Bajor's only chance of survival. With the Federation forced to abandon Deep Space 9, the station was occupied by Dominion and Cardassian forces, who were officially welcomed into Bajoran space by Major Kira on behalf of the Council. (DS9: "In the Cards", "Call to Arms")"
In 2374, Major Kira went to the Council of Ministers, asking them to lodge a formal protest against the planned execution of Rom. However, Weyoun had previously informed Kira that any such protest would fall on deaf ears. (DS9: "Favor the Bold")
In early 2375, the Council of Ministers accepted a request from Senator Kimara Cretak of the Romulan Star Empire to build a field hospital on the Bajoran moon Derna to treat injured Romulans. When evidence emerged that the Romulans had begun arming the facility with plasma torpedoes, the Council of Ministers objected to this action and demanded that the Romulans remove the weapons. The Romulans refused, forcing the two allies into a tense stand-off. The Council of Ministers authorized Colonel Kira Nerys to blockade the hospital, providing her with 12 ships. (DS9: "Image in the Sand", "Shadows and Symbols")
- Initially known as the "Bajoran Council" in DS9 Season 1, this entity was regularly referred to as the "Chamber of Ministers" throughout DS9 Season 2. In "Rapture", the terms "Chamber of Ministers" and "Council of Ministers" were used to describe the same government body, after which it was referred to only as the "Council of Ministers."
