Polling orders
A Polling order (sometimes consulting order) is any order that makes recommendations to the Crown (or Coronets) via group meetings and discussion. Potential candidates - who may have been recommended to the order by the members of the populace - will be discussed by the current members in attendance. If enough member agree, they will be formally recommended to the sitting King and Queen (or Coronets) to be added to the order.
Note that the King and Queen are not obliged to act on a recommendation - their word is law, after all - although it's fairly rare for them not to. They may also decide to award membership into a polling order without waiting the order's recommendation, but again, this is rare as it can cause conflict.
The Kingdom level polling orders include:
The Peerages
Grant Level Orders
- The Order of the Grey Goose Shaft (closed)
- The Ordo Hastae Leonis
- The Order of the White Scarf (closed)
Other Polling orders:
Principalities and Baronies may also have non-armigerous polling orders. These vary by branch, but typically are for awards to recognize long term service or contributions to the branch.
Often these awards are given only once a year, and likewise these orders only meet to discuss candidates once a year, sometime prior to whatever event the award is typically given at. Their recommendations are made to the Principality or Baronial Coronets.