The Meclis-i Ayan was an important legislative body in the late Ottoman Empire, established in 1838. It served as an upper house of the Ottoman Parliament, providing a platform for the elite and influential members of society to participate in governance. The council aimed to advise the Sultan and contribute to the legislative process. Members of the Meclis-i Ayan were typically appointed rather than elected, which distinguished it from the lower house, the Meclis-i Mebusan. This body played a significant role in the modernization efforts of the empire, particularly during the Tanzimat reforms, which sought to address administrative and social issues.