The Chapterhouses — often just called Chapters — of Gallifrey were the political affiliations of the various Great Houses and Families. There were six chapters, (PROSE: The Ancestor Cell) each representing one of the founders of Time Lord society. Each Chapter had its own dominant colour, and wore robes of that colour during ceremonial occasions, such as the inauguration of a new Lord President. The most prominent was the Prydonian Chapter. The Doctor belonged to this chapter. Additionally, more Lord Presidents came from this one chapter than any other. (TV: The Deadly Assassin)
Its significance was closely followed by the Arcalian Chapter and the Patrex Chapter. The remaining three, the Dromeian Chapter, the Cerulean Chapter and the Scendles Chapter were overshadowed by the first.[source needed]
The heads of the Chapters were the Lord Cardinals, and the chief of these in a chapter was known as the Cardinal Prime (PROSE: Lungbarrow) Both Lenadi (PROSE: Lungbarrow) and Borusa (TV: The Deadly Assassin) served as Cardinal Prime of the Prydonian Chapter.
According to Commander Hallan, marriage was a way of strengthening the bonds between Houses and Chapters. (AUDIO: Spirit)
Chapters
Founders
According to legend there were six founders of the Chapters and modern Gallifreyan life: (PROSE: The Infinity Doctors, PROSE: The Ancestor Cell)
Ceremonial colours
Prydonians used scarlet and orange. Arcalians used green. Patrexes used heliotrope. (TV: The Deadly Assassin) Dromeians used silver-grey and Ceruleans, as the name would indicate, used blue. (PROSE: Lungbarrow) The Scendles ceremonial robes change from a light pink to a darker shade of red. (PROSE: The Ancestor Cell) The colour gold was reserved for the Gold Usher (TV: The Deadly Assassin)