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Organized the Steel Ministry and looked after the religious side of things. This Canton was the main bureaucratic division of the Ministry.{{book ref|mb1|23}}
As the authority in bureaucratic matters, any mercantile contracts, divorces, weddings, land purchases, inheritances and any other important dealings could only be authorized by the Canton of Orthodoxy. It was said if an obligator hadn't witnessed an event or sealed a documentsdocument, it might as well not have happened or been written.{{book ref|mb1|23}}
There was a long -standing rivalry between the Canton of Orthodoxy and the Canton of Inquisition, for the Canton of Inquisition believed that they should have dominance over the other Cantons. The Canton of Inquisition is eventually given thethis dominanceauthority when they capturecaptured Vin and proveproved that she iswas the lord prelan [[Tevidian Tekiel]]'s (the Lord Prelan) half-breed daughter,; whilea long-standing law made it was forbidden for Noblesnobles to have illegitimate half-[[skaa]] children.{{book ref|mb1|36}}
==== Canton of Finance ====
The bank of the Final Empire. It was in chargedcharge of the financial operations of the Final Empire. Their work included the transport of funds. During the last days of the Final Empire, a skaa crewleader named Camon tried to scam this Canton. During the operation, one of his crewmembers, Vin, unknowingly revealed herself as a Misting, and later a full Mistborn. This was the event that led Kelsier to recruit Vin to his crew.
The Canton's headquarters was an imposing building. It was tall and blocky with a massive rose window in the front, with two red banners hanging down beside the window, proclaiming praises to the [[Lord Ruler]]. Upon entering the building, one would find a desk at the end of an extended entryway, with an obligator manning the desk. Decorations within the building were sparse and lacking. It was often described as austere, bearing only the most necessary furniture and simple grey carpeting, the walls also lacking adornments. An exception to that rule was the waiting room. With plush chairs and lavish décor, the room clearly catered to the tastes of visiting noblemen. Snacks are also provided for those waiting, small cakes, for instance.{{book ref|mb1|2}}
==== Canton of Resource ====
There are many philosophers in the Steel Ministry and most end up in the Canton of Resource, the best place for those with analytical minds.{{annotation ref|mb3|chapter=43}} This Canton is tasked with trade, transport, and taxation. A big portion of the [[atium]] mined at the [[Pits of Hathsin]] is secretly transported by the Canton of Resource. Atium beads are disguised as and hidden in Ministry funds, since metal coins radiatesradiate powerful light in the [[Cognitive Realm]], blendingwhich beads and coins blindskeeps [[Ruin]] from noticing where the god metal goes.{{book ref|mb3|79}} It is also in charge of maintaining supply lines to the other Cantons, for feeding the people and maintaining the canals.{{book ref|mb3|44}}
The national headquarters of the Canton of Resource was in [[Luthadel]] while the [[Western Dominance|Western Dominance's]] regional headquarters was in [[Fadrex City]]{{book ref|mb3|27}} and housed one of the [[Lord Ruler|Lord Ruler's]] supply caches.{{book ref|mb3|44}}
==== Canton of Inquisition ====
During the [[Final Empire]] the Canton of Inquisition was run by the [[Steel Inquisitors]], and acted as law enforcement, especially over the allomanticAllomantic community. Obligators of the Canton of Inquisition had the usual tattoos that rimmedaround the eyes, spreading outward like cracks of lightning, with the addition of a stark red line on the side of their face.{{book ref|mb1|27}} In addition to dealing with anyone that went against Ministry protocol, the Canton of Inquisition also had bases all around the city of [[Luthadel]], called Soothing stations. These were to dampen the emotions of everyone in the area, calming and depressing them to preempt rebellion. In addition, many Inquisitors found skaa Mistings by installing [[bronze|Seekers]] in the Soothing stations.{{book ref|mb1|27}} There were between thirty and forty soothing stations around the city, each with three Soothers, a Seeker, and a SeekerSmoker to mask the Allomancy to anyone outside.{{book ref|mb1|29}}
By revealing that [[Vin]] was the daughter of the Lord Prelan [[Tevidian Tekiel]], shortly before the death of the [[Lord Ruler]], the Canton of Inquisition gained dominance over the other Cantons.{{book ref|mb1|36}}
The [[Conventical of Seran]] is a fortress of the Canton of Inquisiton, and may be the place where new inquisitors are created.{{book ref|mb2|12}}
During his argument with [[Elend]], [[Yomen]] mentions how the Canton of Inquisition had been formed sometime during the sixth century, and it was this Canton which suggested the [[Terris]] breeding programs to the Lord Ruler in order to keep that population under control. The Lord Ruler agreed to it provisionally, and the programs were then kept until the collapse of the Final Empire. However, it is also mentioned that the subjugation of the Terris people had started far before the Canton of Inquisition had come up with the idea of the breeding programs.{{book ref|mb3|44}}
=== Obligators ===
Obligators were distinguished by their shaved heads and intricate tattoos around their eyes to signify to their rank and Canton membership.{{book ref|mb1|1}}{{book ref|mb1|27}} They typically wore dark grey robes. The obligators would have to be called in to witness or approve of anything significant going on in the Final Empire. They were required to practice their religion and maintain a religious air with devotion that was unnecessary for nobles. Part of those requirements were daily prayers and ceremonies to the Lord Ruler.{{annotation ref|mb3|chapter=34}} Obligators were allowed to marry.{{wob ref|1077}}
In addition to their bureaucratic functions the obligators served as the [[Lord Ruler]]'s religious leaders. They would teach the [[Lord Ruler]]'s religion to [[skaa]] and noblemen alike.{{annotation ref|mb2|chapter=48}} Obligators determine who the nobility is allowed to marry as part of their duties.{{book ref|mb1|23}}
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