Parliament

• Made up of the House of Lords (nobility and bishops) and the House of Commons (wealthy educated gentry). House of Lords was more powerful
• Gave consent for tax collections or increases and passed new laws
• Could only meet when Elizabeth called it - 13 times in 45 years
• Not the role of parliament to govern
• Elizabeth had a heavy financial difficulties - relied on taxes
• Elizabeth used speeches to bully and charm members
• MPs possessed freedom of speech, meaning some lively debates in Elizabeth’s potential husbands and religious grievances for puritans occurred