Nature of Government in Tudor Stuart England

The nature of government in Tudor-Stuart England, 1558-1667, was such that there were 6 parts of which each had separate but interacting and interdependent roles. They were the Privy Council, the Crown or monarch, Court, Parliament, Local Government and Regional Government. These various parts had a hierarchy of power. The Central Government was the most powerful combination of parts, and the Crown was the most singular part.

The Central Government was made up of the Privy Council and the Crown. The Crown was a personal monarchy and therefore their personality could and did affect their reign and choices. The Crown was seen as being chosen by God and ruled by Divine Rule. They held the right to make any final decisions. The Privy Council, while powerful, was simply there to help and advise the Crown on the best way to carry out the Royal Prerogative. The Royal Prerogative, while being the Crowns powers under Common Law, was also their duties to the country. The Royal Prerogative was split into Ordinary Prerogative and Extraordinary Prerogative. The Ordinary Prerogative was for the everyday running and activities of the country. This involved the areas of Defence (military and faith-wise), Foreign Affairs, Law and Order, Power of Appointment, Trade and Commerce, Currency, and Parliament. The Crown was commander-in-chief of the armed forces. They declared war, made peace, signed treaties and trade agreements, and dealt with diplomacy. They were the �fount of justice’ dispensing justice through the law courts, making new courts, issuing royal pardons, appointing judges, ministers, advisers, officials and, if there wasn’t one, an heir. If the monarch were male they could determine church doctrine and appoint bishops - if they weren’t they appointed a male to take on this role. The monarch regulated trade by imposing customs and duties. Money could be minted only on authority of the Crown. While Parliament passed the laws the monarch had the power to veto them, and could also summon, suspend and dissolve Parliament if they so desired. Extraordinary Prerogative was invoked in times if National Emergency. They could bypass Parliament and create new laws by proclamation and create new taxes to generate money. Even though the Privy Council was there just to advise and help carry out the Royal will, they had power. This power lay in the ability to advise and persuade the monarch. Even though the monarch didn’t have to listen, they still had the access to the Crown and had the Crowns confidence and trust. They also had power because they had a relatively free hand when administering to the various Departments of State and instructing the lower governments. Some of the Departments they administered to were Chancery, Privy Seal, Signet Office and Exchequer. They weren’t a court but they could adjudicate on matters brought before them and had the power to send someone to jail if a substantial enough crime had been committed.

The Court was where the Privy Council, the Crown and Parliament met with the gentry. Because the gentry were the public figures and dominated the Local and Regional Governments - the councils Central Government relied on to enforce the Royal will - the Court was the communication heart of the government. It was the place the monarch projected their image and along with the �Great Men’ dealt out rewards and patronage. These rewards and patronage were to compensate for the money the Central Government couldn’t pay them, and also to thank them for the goodwill and loyalty that led them to do the work.

Parliament was described as �irregular aid to the government’. It was made up of the House of Lords (hereditary Peers and monarch appointed Bishops) and the House of Commons (commoners – knights, lawyers, judges, �plain gentlemen’ etc – voted in by the 40-shilling freeholders). Parliament’s power was in its financial, legislative, judicial and communicational powers. In