Elizabeth I's government
ministers
main body of Elizabeth's government was the privy council
functions
discuss matters of state and offer policy advice
manage crown finance
administer the realm
enforce laws
enforce the religious settlement
William Cecil was established as Elizabeth's key minister
council contained members with conservative views, usually of aristocracy
in the 1570s, many protestant councillors were elected
walsingham
sadler
earl of Warwick
problems
a number of councillors died in quick succession
failed to make immediate replacements of dead councillors
lack of senior noblemen on the council
factional rivalry
clash between Cecil and the earl of Essex, leading to the Essex rebellion of 1601
Essex's response to his declining influence was an armed coup to bring down Cecil
essex was tried and executed the same year
parliament
relatively unimportant under elizabeth
seen as occasionally important for legislative and revenue-raising tasks, but largely secondary during elizabeths reign
parliament called 13 times, mostly for money or in regards to security
438 laws passed by Elizabeth's parliament
11/13 parliaments were asked to grant extraordinary revenue
managing of parliament
often managed directly by the privy council in matters such as bills ands finance
parliament irritated Elizabeth by bringing up topics such as marriage and succession, which she deemed royal preorogative