Klingon Government

The Empire was begun by Kahless the Unforgettable, who first united the Klingon people.

Officially, the Klingon Empire is considered a feudal monarchy. In the past, the utmost power resided in the Emperor, who originally was to be a descendant of Kahless.
However, actual power resides with the Klingon High Council.

• The position of Emperor had been abandoned in the mid-21st century, but was revived in 2369 when a group of clerics created a clone of Kahless,
  who was accepted as the new Emperor, although only as a religious figurehead.

The High Council is made up of twenty-four members, each the head of various Great Houses (tuqmey, essentially, the nobility).
The head of the Council, the Chancellor, is protected at all times by the Yan-Isleth (“Brotherhood of the Sword”).

Females were not traditionally permitted to hold seats on the High Council.
Though Klingons generally view males and females to be equal, it has only been recently that more females have been offered seats.

• Azetbur, the daughter of Chancellor Gorkon, was permitted to succeed him as Chancellor in 2293
• Ambassador K'Ehleyr had been offered a seat by Gowron

Various factions almost constantly challenge the leadership of the Empire, and so over time the Klingons have developed a strict and rigorous ceremony called the Rite of Succession, in order to determine their next leader when one expires.
According to tradition, one was permitted to challenge the leader on the grounds of cowardice or dishonorable conduct, and then fight in single combat. Should the challenger slay the incumbent, he or she assumes the role of the new leader.

Aside from challenges to the primary leadership of the Empire, there has also been frequent feuding between the various Great Houses.
Most often, a challenge is made on the floor of the High Council, and resolved during subsequent battle. However, on occasion, some “dishonorable” House leaders have chosen to make more insidious attacks.