Government Flashcards
What was Henry’s approach to Government ?
- Personal approach
- Wanted to do everything himself
- Focused on taxation
- Was determined to re-establish good governance
How was Government split ?
- Into 3 parts
- Central Government
- Local Government
- Regional Government
What was the Royal Household ?
- Looked after domestic needs of the King
- Were members of the court
- Went wherever the king went
- Important in the day to day running of the country
What was the functions of the King’s Council ?
- Advice the king
- Administer the realm on the king’s behalf
- Make legal judgements
What were the types of councillors within the King’s Council ?
- Members of nobility - Lords Daubney & Dynham
- Churchmen - John Morton and Richard Fox
- Laymen (gentry or lawyers)- Sir Reginald Bray and Edmund Dudley
What was the Great Council ?
- Gathering of the House of Lords without the House of Commons
- No clearly defined functions
- Only met 5 times
- Issues relating to war/rebellion and making key designs regarding national security
What was the Council Learned ?
- Corrupt committee
- Exploited the kings prerogative rights
- Led by Empson and Dudley
- Important for raising finances
- Caused fear and anger
- Bypassed the normal legal system
What was the Royal Court ?
- Function was to entertain the king when foreign visitors came
- Formed factions
What was the Privy Chamber ?
- Heart of the household apartments
- Where the king could retreat
- Chosen by the king, had the closest access to the king
- Could influence him
How was the monarchy a Personal Monarchy ?
- The amount of political power and influence of an individual depended on their relationship with the king
- Access to the king was therefore very important
What was the Star Chamber ?
- Separate court set up
- Prosecute anyone who behaved in a rebellious/lawless manner
- Cases dealt with by nobles
- Council dominated by Lord Chancellor
What was Parliament ?
- Made up of the House of Commons and the House of Lords
- Granted extraordinary revenue and passed laws
- They met occasionally
- Only king could call parliament
- Called a total of 7 parliaments in his reign
What were the three main functions of Parliament ?
- Pass Laws
- Grant taxation to the crown
- Grant extraordinary revenue
What was the Council of the North ?
- In York
- Function to ensure good governance of lawless region was maintained
- Had a responsibility of defence in the Northern Counties of England
- Henry gave this responsibility to powerful Northern families
What was the Council in Wales ?
- Consisted of the principality and the marcher lordships
- Henry restored the Council of Wales
- Staffed it with Welsh nobles under the leadership of his uncle Jasper
What was the Regional Government in Ireland ?
- Henry was Lord of Ireland
- Earl of Kildare was the deputy but was replaced with Sir Edward Poynings
- Poynings failed to reduce the independence of Irish Parliament
- Kildare was restored
- Most of Ireland lacked proper governance throughout Henry’s reign
What were Justice of the Peaces ?
- Maintained law and order in the countryside
- Appointed on a county by county basis
- Met 4 times a year to administer justice
- Were mostly local gentry who wanted greater prestige
How did the powers of the JP’s increase during Henry’s reign ?
1485- powers of arrest to poachers and hunters
1491- powers to grant bail
1495- powers to vet juries
What was the Privy Council ?
- Group of advisors chosen by the king
- Gave king advice
- 40/50 members
What was the role of William Stanley ?
- Henry’s step uncle
- Appointed lord Chamberlain
- Head of royal household
