Henry VII Government

• Importance of Parliament

  SK1 = Henry used parliament to strengthen his own position e.g. 1504 Act forbade corporations from making any regulations without the king’s consent

  SK2 = Helped Henry establish law and order - used to pass Acts of Attainder and set up Justices of the Peace

  CSK = Was not a permanent feature of government - only met 7 times during Henry’s reign and the longest session was only 3 months
• Importance of Regional Governments

  SK1 = Ensured Henry’s central government decisions were being upheld in all regions including the north, Wales, and Northern Ireland - royal authority had previously been limited in the periphery

  SK2 = The Council of the North had responsibility to defend the northern border and had administrative and judicial power so law could be enforced quickly

  CSK = Direct English control in Ireland was limited to a particular area around Dublin - the Pale
• Importance of Local Governments

  SK1 = Justices of the Peace maintained public order and enforced laws, dispensed justice, tried criminal offences, and granted bail - from 1495 could replace members of juries who they suspected took bribes

  SK2 = JPs were often second rank landowners - gaining their loyalty and giving them these positions allowed Henry to reduce the power of the nobility

  CSK = JPs were dependent on local officials bringing criminals to them which they didn’t want to do as it made them unpopular - Henry relied on good will to ensure justice could actually be implemented