Elizabeth I: Government - Parliament functions and relationships

Question 1

What were the 3 functions of Parliament

Answer 1

1. Law-Making
2. Granting of Taxation
3. Advice

Question 2

How many Acts (laws) were passed by Elizabeths parliament

Answer 2

438

Question 3

What were the most important acts passed by Parliament regarding

Answer 3

Religious and social policy.

e.g. Poor relief in the 1590s

Question 4

How many Parliaments were hosted for revenue

Answer 4

11 of 13

Question 5

What continued from Henry VIII

Answer 5

The crowns ordinary finances were paid for by extraordinary revenue - parliament was used to support ordinary spending

Question 6

What remained unreformed

Answer 6

The taxation systems, this caused extraordinary revenue to fall

Question 7

What was the traditional role of MPs but what was Elizabeth’s view

Answer 7

The traditional role of MPs was to advise the Monarch, however Elizabeth was often uninterested in this advice

Question 8

What did Elizabeth rarely show towards Parliament

Answer 8

Harshness in her methods of controlling Parliament

Question 9

Evidence for Parliament being less important than under Henry VIII

Answer 9

1. Met far less often (only 13 times compared to 28)
2. MPs mainly concerned with leaving Parliament once it had been called
3. Attendance at Parliament was low

Question 10

How did Elizabeth intervene regarding the passing of bills

Answer 10

Elizabeth prevented bills coming into effect many times - over 60 times across the reign. This expresses the Royal Prerogative

Question 11

Reasons for Parliaments importance

Answer 11

1. Used for important legislative measures
2. Used 11 times to raise revenue - important in raising funds for domestic and foreign policy
3. Directly linked with the peerage system - 62 borough seats were given, effective means of peerage as parliament met few times yet still gave a reward socially
4. Encourage support from the nobility
5. Required the Privy Council to control it - idea of it needing this control

Question 12

Reasons for Parliament not being important

Answer 12

1. Mainly focused with passing legislation regarding revenue
2. Was a secondary feature in government
3. Called much less times than Henry VIII

Question 13

Reasons for Parliament being called

Answer 13

1559 - For her settlement, pushed through by Protestant Councillors

1571, 1584 - Control of Catholics and Anti-Catholic laws

1563, 1566, 1589, 1593, 1598, 1601 - Money

1572, 1587, 1585, 1589 - Foreign and Domestic affairs