Elizabeth I- Government

• Elizabeth's role in government

  • Used her Council as the main method of government
  • Did not leave the Council to rule alone
  • Fully intended to be involved in government
• Elizabeth had to assert herself as a woman ruler, as the view was that women were too weak to rule
• Elizabeth's prerogative rights


  • Calling and dissolving Parliament
  • Foreign affairs
  • Appointing ministers and judges
  • Her own marriage and succession
• Elizabeth's marriage and succession


  Brought the most conflict between Elizabeth and her government
• Elizabeth had no children and had not named an heir, this could have plunged the country into civil war
• Elizabeth responded to petitions to marry by vowing to remain unmarried, but assured Parliament she would name an heir at an appropriate time
• Elizabeth's relationship with her ministers

  • Trusted them to run day to day government
  • Would insert herself into discussions to make key decisions
  • Often frustrated ministers by delaying decision making
  • Had the final say
• Privy Council


  • Met regularly with about 10 members
  • Elizabeth often met with ministers individually to make decisions
• Duties of the Privy Council


  • Act as a court of law when sitting as the Star Chamber
  • Manage Parliament
  • Discuss matters of state and offer advice
  • Manage the crown's finances
  • Oversee the operation of and receive appeals from the regional councils
  • Administer the realm
  • Enforce laws on issues such as crime, vagrancy, prices and wages
  • Oversee arrangements of national defence
  • Enforce the religious settlement
• William Cecil


  • Dominant person in Elizabeth's Council
  • Described as 'the man who does everything'
• Other key members of Elizabeth's Council

  • Sir Francis Bacon
  • Francis Russell Earl of Bedford
  • Sir Francis Knollys
  • Thomas Howard the Duke of Norfolk
  • The earls of Sussex and Shrewsbury
  • The Marquis of Winchester
  • Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester
• Changes to the Privy Council in the 1570s

  • Nucleus of firmly Protestant councillors appointed
  • Some conservatives also appointed to counter the Protestant influences
  • Core of 8 who really ran the country, mostly dominated by Protestants
• The Council continued to be effective throughout the 1570s, offering Elizabeth sound and cohesive advice
• The 1580s brought more challenges as many of Elizabeth's key ministers died
• By the 1590s the Council was less effective than it had been, with fewer senior noblemen as members
• Elizabeth successfully prevented factionalism in government throughout the 1560s and 1570s
• Two factions emerged in the 1590s, led by Robert Cecil and the Earl of Essex


  This came to a head in 1601 with the Essex Rebellion
• Court


  • Two main parts: the Presence Chamber and the Privy Chamber
  • The Privy Chamber was dominated by ladies of the bedchamber, diminishing its political significance
• Patronage


  • Up to 2,500 men took an interest in political matters
  • Elizabeth kept tight control on patronage
  • Rewarded the governing classes with offices rather than titles
  • Patronage was crucial to the running of government and was hugely successful in the 1560s, 70s and 80s