Quorum of Twelve
Encyclopedia
The Quorum of Twelve is a fictional governing body of the Twelve Colonies
of Kobol
on the two Battlestar Galactica
television series. In both series, it was composed of one representative from each colony.
Series creator Glen A. Larson
is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one of whose governing bodies is the Quorum of the Twelve
, one of many LDS references in the Battlestar Galactica series.
, the Quorum of Twelve—referred to there as the "Council of Twelve"—was the civilian government mentioned occasionally on the show. Most day-to-day aspects of civilian life were handled by the quorum; however, they typically left military decisions to Adama and his crew. The Council has its own security force, but interestingly uses Colonial Warriors for security in their own meeting chamber. There is little love lost between Security and the Warriors.
Commander Adama
, in addition to his role as commander of the Battlestar fleet, was a member of the original Quorum. Adama is presumably the representative from Caprica, though how he held that office while commanding a Battlestar is a matter not addressed in the series. Adama was one of two members that survived the destruction of the colonies. After the destruction, Adama presides over a new version of the Quorum.
In "Saga of a Star World
", Count Baltar
appears as another member of the original Quorum, betraying the colonies on the condition that his colony was to be subjugated instead of destroyed by the Cylons. In "Lost Planet of the Gods
", Baltar points out that his seal is the same as Adama's and so he was able to enter the pyramid.
A pivotal character who later disappears is Sire Uri, who is appointed to the new Council during "Saga of a Star World".
All of the Council members seen in "Saga of a Star World" have been replaced by the time of "Baltar's Escape" wherein the entire Council is captured in the Galactica landing bay while greeting representatives of the Eastern Alliance.
When President Laura Roslin
was arrested and the fleet placed under martial law following a coup d'etat
by Commander William Adama in orbit above Kobol ("Kobol's Last Gleaming
"), Colonel Saul Tigh tried to justify Roslin's arrest and the suspension of civilian government to the Quorum of Twelve by showing them what he thought would be Roslin in an incapacitated and delusional state ("Fragged
"). However after an impassioned speech to the Quorum (after which it was clear their loyalties lay with her, and not the military) Roslin led a civilian revolt which eventually returned civilian rule to the fleet.
It appears that the President can make appointments to the Quorum when vacancies appear in its membership; Lee Adama
was appointed the Caprican delegate, apparently after the death or resignation of his predecessor ("The Ties That Bind
"). It also appears that the Quorum can select the Acting President in case of the incapacitation of the President; it selected Lee Adama to be Acting President after Roslin's disappearance aboard a Cylon rebel basestar ("Sine Qua Non
").
All members of The Quorum, except for Lee (who only survived a murder attempt thanks to Starbuck), are murdered by Galactica Marines at Vice President Tom Zarek
's command during the mutiny for not supporting his coup ("Blood on the Scales
"). Afterward, Roslin and Lee decided not to reconstitute the Quorum of Twelve, since the Twelve Colonies no longer existed. Instead, a new council was derived with representatives from each vessel in the fleet ("No Exit
").
Twelve Colonies
The Twelve Colonies of Man are fictional locations that constitute the principal human civilization in the original Battlestar Galactica television series, the "reimagined" series of the same name in 2004, and in the prequel series, Caprica...
of Kobol
Kobol
Kobol is the name of a planet in the fictional Battlestar Galactica universe.Within the context of both Battlestar Galactica stories, Kobol is the birthplace and original home of humanity, from which the civilization departed and formed the Twelve Colonies on other worlds...
on the two Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica (disambiguation)
Battlestar Galactica is an American science fiction franchise.It may also refer to various aspects of that franchise:* Battlestar Galactica , the titular ship central to the franchise* Battlestar Galactica original universe...
television series. In both series, it was composed of one representative from each colony.
Series creator Glen A. Larson
Glen A. Larson
Glen Albert Larson is an American television producer and writer best known as the creator of Battlestar Galactica, The Fall Guy, Magnum, P.I. and Knight Rider.-Career:...
is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one of whose governing bodies is the Quorum of the Twelve
Quorum of the Twelve
In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Quorum of the Twelve was one of the governing bodies of the church hierarchy organized by the movement's founder Joseph Smith, Jr., and patterned after the twelve apostles of Christ In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Quorum of the Twelve (also known as the...
, one of many LDS references in the Battlestar Galactica series.
Battlestar Galactica (1978)
In the 1978 version of Battlestar GalacticaBattlestar Galactica (1978 TV series)
Battlestar Galactica is an American science fiction television series, created by Glen A. Larson. It starred Lorne Greene, Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict and ran for one season in 1978–79. After cancellation, its story was continued in 1980 as Galactica 1980 with Adama, Lieutenant Boomer and...
, the Quorum of Twelve—referred to there as the "Council of Twelve"—was the civilian government mentioned occasionally on the show. Most day-to-day aspects of civilian life were handled by the quorum; however, they typically left military decisions to Adama and his crew. The Council has its own security force, but interestingly uses Colonial Warriors for security in their own meeting chamber. There is little love lost between Security and the Warriors.
Commander Adama
Commander Adama
Commander Adama is a fictional character in the 1978 movie and subsequent ABC television series Battlestar Galactica and its continuation series, Galactica 1980. Adama is the commander of the great military vessel Battlestar Galactica, commander of the refugee fleet and military commander of the...
, in addition to his role as commander of the Battlestar fleet, was a member of the original Quorum. Adama is presumably the representative from Caprica, though how he held that office while commanding a Battlestar is a matter not addressed in the series. Adama was one of two members that survived the destruction of the colonies. After the destruction, Adama presides over a new version of the Quorum.
In "Saga of a Star World
Saga of a Star World
"Saga of a Star World" is the pilot for the American science fiction television series of Battlestar Galactica which was produced in 1978 by Glen A. Larson...
", Count Baltar
Count Baltar
In the original 1978 Battlestar Galactica television series, Count Baltar was a leading antagonist character who betrayed the human race to its enemy, the robot race of Cylons...
appears as another member of the original Quorum, betraying the colonies on the condition that his colony was to be subjugated instead of destroyed by the Cylons. In "Lost Planet of the Gods
Lost Planet of the Gods
"Lost Planet of the Gods" is a two-part episode of the original Battlestar Galactica television series.-Re-Imagining:*This episode was remade into a nine-episode story arc in the new Battlestar Galactica starting with season one's Kobol's Last Gleaming in which Kobol is discovered and ending in...
", Baltar points out that his seal is the same as Adama's and so he was able to enter the pyramid.
A pivotal character who later disappears is Sire Uri, who is appointed to the new Council during "Saga of a Star World".
All of the Council members seen in "Saga of a Star World" have been replaced by the time of "Baltar's Escape" wherein the entire Council is captured in the Galactica landing bay while greeting representatives of the Eastern Alliance.
Battlestar Galactica (2004)
In the episode "Colonial Day", the civilian government was reconstituted, as elections were held for new representatives from the twelve colonies: Caprica, Gemenon, Tauron, Aquaria, Canceron, Sagittaron, Virgon, Picon, Libris, Aerelon, Leonis, and Scorpia. Each Colony (the surviving humans from those colonies) elects one delegate who votes on their behalf. The President of the Twelve Colonies acts as the chairperson. As seen in the episode "Colonial Day" the first issues they were forced to deal with included education, distributing of medical and food supplies, and the election of a Vice President. The first meeting coincided with the 52nd Colonial Day which celebrates the signing of the Articles of Colonization; the founding of a unified government for the twelve colonies.When President Laura Roslin
Laura Roslin
Her first actions include organizing all FTL-capable ships together and convincing Commander William Adama to abandon a retaliatory attack on the Cylons. President Roslin and Billy Keikeya, her aide/press secretary/chief of staff, establish a working office space aboard her transport, renamed...
was arrested and the fleet placed under martial law following a coup d'etat
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
by Commander William Adama in orbit above Kobol ("Kobol's Last Gleaming
Kobol's Last Gleaming (Battlestar Galactica)
"Kobol's Last Gleaming" is the two-part first season finale of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica television series.In Part 1, the human fleet discovers the abandoned planet Kobol, the birthplace of humanity in the Battlestar Galactica universe...
"), Colonel Saul Tigh tried to justify Roslin's arrest and the suspension of civilian government to the Quorum of Twelve by showing them what he thought would be Roslin in an incapacitated and delusional state ("Fragged
Fragged (Battlestar Galactica)
"Fragged" is the third episode of the second season of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica television series. It aired originally on the Sci Fi Channel on July 29, 2005. It is the first episode in which Starbuck does not appear....
"). However after an impassioned speech to the Quorum (after which it was clear their loyalties lay with her, and not the military) Roslin led a civilian revolt which eventually returned civilian rule to the fleet.
It appears that the President can make appointments to the Quorum when vacancies appear in its membership; Lee Adama
Lee Adama
Leland Joseph "Lee" Adama is a fictional character in the television series Battlestar Galactica. He is portrayed by actor Jamie Bamber. He is one of the main characters in the series.-Early life:...
was appointed the Caprican delegate, apparently after the death or resignation of his predecessor ("The Ties That Bind
The Ties That Bind (Battlestar Galactica)
"The Ties That Bind" is the fifth episode in the fourth season of the reimagined science fiction television series Battlestar Galactica. The episode originally aired on SCI FI and Space in the United States and Canada respectively on April 18, 2008, and on Sky1 in the United Kingdom on April 22...
"). It also appears that the Quorum can select the Acting President in case of the incapacitation of the President; it selected Lee Adama to be Acting President after Roslin's disappearance aboard a Cylon rebel basestar ("Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non (Battlestar Galactica)
"Sine Qua Non" is the tenth episode in the fourth season of the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica. It first aired on television on May 27, 2008. The episode name is a Latin term referring to something essential that cannot be done without...
").
All members of The Quorum, except for Lee (who only survived a murder attempt thanks to Starbuck), are murdered by Galactica Marines at Vice President Tom Zarek
Tom Zarek
Thomas "Tom" Zarek is the name of a fictional character on the Syfy series Battlestar Galactica. He is played by Richard Hatch, who had previously portrayed Captain Apollo, a character on the original Battlestar Galactica series of the late 1970s....
's command during the mutiny for not supporting his coup ("Blood on the Scales
Blood on the Scales
"Blood on the Scales" is the sixteenth episode in the fourth season of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica. It aired on television in the United States and Canada on February 6, 2009. The survivor count shown in the title sequence is 39,603.-Plot:...
"). Afterward, Roslin and Lee decided not to reconstitute the Quorum of Twelve, since the Twelve Colonies no longer existed. Instead, a new council was derived with representatives from each vessel in the fleet ("No Exit
No Exit (Battlestar Galactica)
"No Exit" is the seventeenth episode in the fourth season of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica. It aired on television in the United States and Canada on February 13, 2009...
").