The Imperial Divan is the international governing body of the fraternity, consisting of 12 “Imperial Officers” who act as a corporate Board of Directors.
Each year, an Imperial Officer is elected to the lowest position on the Imperial Divan – the Imperial Outer Guard – and traditionally each position moves up one position each year, except for the Imperial Recorder and Imperial Treasurer, who are elected to their positions each year and do not move up in position.
The highest position on the Imperial Divan is the Imperial Potentate. This position is a one-year term serving as the president and chief executive officer of Shriners International and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Shriners Children's, the fraternity’s official philanthropy.
The Imperial Potentate's significant other honorably serves as the First Lady, supporting the Shriners International fraternity and Shriners Children's philanthropy.