Government Flashcards
What are the councils and court?
-Royal court
>Household
>Chamber
-The council
>Council learned in law
>Other committees
-Unofficial advisors
What was the role of the council?
A group of advisers who supported him in making key decisions.
What was the working council and what was its functions?
The working Council contained around six or seven members.
-To advise the King
-To administer the realm on the King’s behalf
-To make legal judgements
What were the three main types of councilor?
-Nobles
-Churchmen: Often had legal training and were excellent administrators
-Laymen: Gentry or lawyers who were skilled administrators.
What was the role of the council learned?
-It’s function was to maintain the King’s revenue and to exploit his prerogative rights.
-It made the system of bonds and recognisances work effectively in order to ensure loyalty and raise finance.
-Empson and Dudley whose ruthless
What was the role of the court and household?
-The royal court was the centre of government.
-A focus for personal monarchy in which persons power was determined by his relationship with the monarch.
What did the court compromise of?
-the household proper, looking after the King, courtiers and guests.
-The chamber presided over by the lord Chamberlain, a powerful and influential courtier who was also a member of the Kings council and often spoke for the monarch.
What is the role of Parliament?
- Met infrequently and was not central tot he government. It compromised the House of Commons and Hose of Lords.
-Only the King could call Parliament and demonstrated his right to rule by calling his first Parliament in November 1485.
-Henry called 7 parliaments in his reign (5 in the first 10 years and only two in the remaining 14).
What is domestic policy?
-Essential for Henry to be able to maintain law and prevent uprisings or rebellions and so that potential enemies had no excuse to challenge his authority.
what is the role of the regional government ?(nobility)
-Following losses of land and power during the Wars of the Roses, the great magnates were only powerful in the North of England.
-The Stanleys controlled the North-west. The Earl of Northumberland ruled the North-east until 1489.
-The Earl of Surrey was released from Prison and sent to the North which payed off.
-EoS ruled this area through the Council of the North.
-Henry preferred on relying on lesser magnates, but he trusted a few and employe a spying network to ensure all the nobility remained loyal.
What was the Role of the local government (JPs)?
-Henry increased the powers of JP’s who, with the sheriff, were appointed to each county.
-Unpaid and local gentry with some being royal officials.
-They met 4 times a year to discuss disputes at the quarter sessions.
-They were responsible for routine administration.
What are three sources of Income?
-Profits from feudal dues and exercise of the royal prerogative.
Crown lands(income from rents)
-Other sources
What is profits from feudal dues?
-Profits increased by reviving/extending feudal dues
>Profits from Wardship
>Feudal aid granted in 1504- the crowns right to impose taxes for certain services.
>Dues paid by landowners
What are crown lands?
> Large proportion of ordinary revenue
Around £12,000 per year at beginning of reign, collected by inefficient Court of Exchequer
From c1492, administrated through the Chamber
By the end of the reign, had risen to about £42,000 per year.
What are other internal sources of finance?
> Customs revenue (Tonnage and poundage)
Legal system and profits of justice
Bonds and recognisances.
