Editing Prince-elector (section)

== Imperial Diet ==
The electors, like the other princes ruling States of the Empire, were members of the [[Imperial Diet (Holy Roman Empire)|Imperial Diet]], which was divided into three ''collegia'': the Council of Electors, the Council of Princes, and the Council of Cities. In addition to being members of the Council of Electors, most electors were also members of the Council of Princes by virtue of possessing territory or holding ecclesiastical position. The assent of both bodies was required for important decisions affecting the structure of the Empire, such as the creation of new electorates or States of the Empire.

Many electors ruled a number of States of the Empire or held several ecclesiastical titles, and therefore had multiple votes in the Council of Princes. In 1792, the Elector of Brandenburg had eight votes, the Elector of Bavaria six votes, the Elector of Hanover six votes, the King of Bohemia three votes, the Elector-Archbishop of Trier three votes, the Elector-Archbishop of Cologne two votes, and the Elector-Archbishop of Mainz one vote. Thus, of the hundred votes in the [[List of Imperial Diet participants (1792)|Council of Princes in 1792]], twenty-nine belonged to electors, giving them considerable influence in the Council of Princes in addition to their positions as electors.

In addition to voting by colleges or councils, the Imperial Diet also voted in religious coalitions, as provided for in the [[Peace of Westphalia]]. The Archbishop of Mainz presided over the [[Roman Catholicism|Catholic]] body, the {{lang|la|corpus catholicorum}}, while the Elector of Saxony presided over the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] body, the {{lang|la|[[corpus evangelicorum]]}}. The division into religious bodies was on the basis of the official religion of the state.