Within the British Empire, a Crown colony or royal colony was a colony under the direct administration of The Crown (a term that in practice usually means the Government of the United Kingdom, acting on behalf of the Monarch), usually via a Governor, appointed by the Monarch on the advice of the Home (UK) Government, with or without the assistance of a local Council (in some cases split into two: an Executive Council and a Legislative Council) similar to the Privy Council that advises the Monarch. As the Members of the Councils were appointed by the Governors, there was consequently no local autonomy, and British citizens resident in Crown colonies had no representation in local government.