Government

• What was a central part of the Elizabethan Government?

  Court
• What role did the Court play in the Elizabethan Government?

  It provided advice and entertainment to the monarch
• Who could bestow the honour of being part of the Royal Court?

  The Queen
• Who made up the Court in Elizabethan times?

  The Queen, her household, and nobility
• What types of members occasionally joined the Court?

  Foreign ambassadors or other monarchs
• Where did the Court follow the Queen?

  Wherever she chose to stay
• What cultural activities did the Court center around?

  Theatre, music, and dance
• How many chambers was Parliament divided into during Elizabethan times?

  Two
• What were the two chambers of Parliament?

  House of Lords and House of Commons
• Who was in the House of Lords?

  Nobility, bishops, and clergy
• Who was in the House of Commons?

  Representatives of the common people
• What was the main role of Parliament?

  To agree on financial matters like taxation
• Who normally paid for the running of the country?

  The Queen
• When was it necessary to ask Parliament to impose a tax?

  During special times like war
• What additional role did Parliament have besides financial matters?

  To provide advice to the monarch
• How often did Elizabeth listen to Parliament's advice?

  In most cases, she did not listen
• When did Parliament sit and when was it dismissed?

  When the Queen decided
• How many times did Elizabeth call Parliament during her reign?

  Thirteen
• What was the Privy Council's main function?

  To provide opinions and help the Queen decide
• What could the Queen do regarding decisions made by the Privy Council?

  She could overturn any decision
• How often did the Privy Council meet during Elizabeth's reign?

  From once a week to almost every day
• Who decided the membership of the Privy Council?

  Elizabeth
• How many Privy Councillors were there when Elizabeth became Queen?

  Around 50
• What did Elizabeth do to the number of Privy Councillors?

  Reduced it to nineteen and then eleven
• Who was Elizabeth's Secretary of State?

  Sir William Cecil
• What was Sir William Cecil's relationship with Elizabeth?

  He was favoured and trusted above all others
• What was the role of Lord Lieutenants?

  Responsible for local militia upkeep
• How were Lord Lieutenants appointed?

  By the Queen
• How many Lord Lieutenants were there in England?

  One for each county
• What additional responsibilities did Lord Lieutenants have?

  To ensure the Queen's wishes were carried out
• When were Lord Lieutenants first introduced?

  Under Henry VIII in the 1540s
• What change occurred regarding Lord Lieutenants with the threat of the Spanish Armada?

  All counties had one appointed
• What was the role of Justices of the Peace?

  To ensure law and order in counties
• What was the status of Justices of the Peace?

  It was a voluntary position, but an honour
• How did the powers of Justices of the Peace change over time?

  Their powers slowly increased
• What powers did Justices of the Peace eventually gain?

  To collect fines and imprison suspects
• What did Justices of the Peace do with arrested suspects?

  Bring them to the Assizes court
• What do Justices of the Peace exist as today?

  Magistrates
• Who was the principal secretary to Elizabeth I?

  Francis Walsingham
• What role is Francis Walsingham most remembered for?

  Elizabeth's spy master