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What responsibilities did the Han chancellor and imperial counselor have?

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Map showing the Han Empire's territory around 100 BCE, shaded in orange, covering much of eastern China and extending westward. The map also marks the boundary of modern China and highlights the Great Wall running along the northern frontier, built for protection against the Huns. Major rivers and the capital, Chang'an (Xi'an), are labeled. — Han dynasty Map showing the extent of the Han empire c. 100 bce.

During the Han dynasty, the chancellor and the imperial counselor—along with the commander in chief—formed the uppermost stratum of the civil service.12

Their primary responsibilities included:

Advisory Role: They served as the emperor’s highest advisers, providing guidance on matters of state.12
Governmental Control: They retained final control over the activities of the government.12

The structure of the Han government was intentionally designed with hierarchies and the duplication of functions to prevent any single official from accumulating excessive power. Consequently, these senior statesmen shared broader administrative responsibilities with nine ministers of state, who managed specific areas such as religious cults, palace security, criminal adjudication, foreign diplomacy, and the management of state revenue.12