1) how do the counts/countesses get their positions? are they elected or is it in their blood line?
2) Do the emperor/council make all the decisions, or do the counts/countesses have a word in it as well?
and 3) do the council get voted in, selected by the emperor or what?

Thanks in advance.

The counts and countesses inherit or marry into their titles. There are no public elections. Farwil Indarys is described as the 'heir' to Cheydinhal, and they wear signet rings. It seems that they can be forfeited at the discretion of the emperor, however, as Count Andel Indarys is a 'parvenu' who rose to power due to some dodgy deal. The lesser titles can be bought from the Council. The counts seem to be administrative rulers, they don't have any real power over legislation. Their armies are detachments of the Imperial Legion, and their own militia.

The Elder Council, going by their name, seem to be the highest-ranking politicians and military commanders from the provinces, and there's no election involved, and especially no election amongst the wider populace. What the council actually does? It's probably just advisory. The emperor seems to make the laws and decisions. Whether he talks with the council or not is up to him (or her), but their support goes some way to ensuring a successful reign.

1. bloodline/marriage
2. empire as a whole, emperor/elder council, only, specific politics in cities, counts/countesses
3. don't know, think it's the aristocracy from the different provinces combined with people chosen by the emperor

edit: Gallowglass, I haven't seen you around here in a while.

The Council are patriarchs of Tamriel's elite. I can't think of a female example, and for once, who cares if it's all male?

They are not voted, there's a ritual no one talks about, to enter. There are echelons of the Council the Emperor isn't privy to. The Bilderberg club!

The Emperor and the Council are autonomous, they interact through the Chancellor. The Council is not only older than the Septims, but likely more powerful, making most policy decisions. They're a disfunctional, married couple, and so the Council has often been at odds with the Emperors. Read the history of their relationship. History of the Empire, probably. I've never read it through, myself, but I guess it's pro bono stuff. If you want to be a good citizen, read it.

From dialogue w/ the counts, I would say they govern rather freely. Bloodline, but they are the Emperor's to install. He dosn't need to follow the tradition of bloodline.

Thank you all for your consistent responses. So is Cyrodil an absolute monarchy?

No, as practically it is kept in check and some cases "controlled" by the Elder Council as it has full legislative authority, being able to enact new laws whenever they deem proper although the reigning Emperor retains the power of veto to counter this.

Also, even if it is effectively "being" absolute monarchy, it is technically constitutional monarchy due to the existence of a constitution and state canon of law.

It's somewhere between an absolute monarchy and the system Great Britain has, leaning closer to absolute monarchy than the latter example but not quite. The Emperor still maintains a lot of real power during the Septim Dynasty and it's implied that Titus Mede reformed the Empire and is more of an absolute monarch than the Septims were.

How much power the Elder Council has depends entirely on the emperor. They had quite a bit of power during Uriel VIII's time, yes, but they were even more powerful during Uriel IV's and were powerless during Pelagius II's. In other words, the council serves to check and balance the emperor only if he wills it. No constitution is ever mentioned in lore.

I'd actually describe the empire in the late 3rd era as an oligarchy, since the council wielded significant power alongside the emperor. In the early 4th era, I'd call it a strait up dictatorship.

The Emperor choses his counts and countesses. Then their sons or daughters take over. So it continues through all time unless the Emperor removes a Count or Countess and choses some completely else (Cheydinhal).

I THINK the Counts and Countesses are in the Council.

And about who are in the Council... Well... It is supposed to be the richest and most influential/powerful people in the Empire... I guess that makes it any person of higher power. Dukes, Counts, Kings, Governors, Generals, Politicians. Other such persons.

The Emperor then lets them rule over their respective areas, talk about stuff happening, do things about it and other such stuff. Unless the Emperor himself gets involved.
Therefore the Council has no direct power over the Emperor. However since it is a Council of the most powerful men in the empire they do have some power.
It also varies about who is the Emperor. Some decides to decide over many things, other let the Council do almost everything.

And others are completely trampled by the Council and are practically at their mercy.\

Lady N hit the nail on the head for number 2.

Yeah, that happens sometimes.

The Council is nothing but greedy, imperialistic fat khajiit. NO EBONY FOR BLOOD!

Sorry, I couldn't resist the temptation

Do you mean autocracy in the 4th era?

Early, as in right after the O crisis. Then the Empire collapses, taking the council with it and then Meade sets up his reign.

If we were to nitpick, I believe that the Elder Council's Chairman is the one who wields the most legislative power and can if he'd like to tell the rest of the council to stuff it and make the law this way. But seeing as how the Chair is almost invariably the Emperor, there isn't much difference.