Elizabethan government

Question 1

Privy council

Answer 1

Gave advice to Queen
Managed administration of government
Made up of 20 men (chosen by Elizabeth)
Closest and most trusted advisors
Queen did not have to follow advice

Question 2

House of lords

Answer 2

Not elected
Made up of nobility and senior churchmen

Question 3

House of commons

Answer 3

Elected (only men who owned property over certain value were allowed to vote)
Crown controlled who got elected in some areas, in others powerful local figures controlled who was chosen

Question 4

William Cecil

Answer 4

Queens closest advisor
Led Privy Council
1558-became Principal Secretary
1571-Got title Lord Burghley
1572-became Lord High Treasurer, control over finances
Served until death in 1598

Question 5

Other key ministers

Answer 5

Nicholas Bacon - Lord Chancellor 1559-1579
Francis Walsingham - became Principal Secretary in 1573

Question 6

Parliaments functions

Answer 6

Advive- see level of support for new policies
Taxation- had to ask permission to raise taxes
Legislation- Queen needed their approval to pass new laws (could bypass by issuing Royal proclamations)

Question 7

Parliament’s powers

Answer 7

Limited
Queen had power to summon and dismiss parliament (only called 13 sessions during 44 year reign)
Had to have Queen’s permission to discuss matters of state - mostly spoke about local, social and economic issues

Question 8

Privy Council and Parliament

Answer 8

Privy Council managed relationships between Elizabeth and Parliament
Cecil convinced MPs to support Queen’s policies
Some members sat in Parliament (acted as royal spokesmen)
The speaker was chosen by Queen, monitored Privy Council

Question 9

Disagreements with Parliament

Answer 9

MPs concerned about who would rule England after her death
Puritan MPs challenged religious settlement
MPs worried about Mary Queen of Scots and Catholic Plots