Local & National Government (WJEC Eduqas GCSE History): Revision Note

How Successful was the Government of Elizabeth I? - Summary 

Elizabeth I was a strong monarch, especially in the 1570s and 1580s. Her government remained strong as she was served by a body of able privy councillors and advisors. Additionally, Elizabeth I was a popular monarch, which helped to ensure loyalty and respect throughout her reign. 

The system of patronage was effectively used during Elizabeth’s reign. This system ensured that the ambitious councillors, courtiers, and members of the Privy Council were controlled and effective. Elizabeth became very skillful at managing difficult situations between the members of nobility and would use their rivalry to her advantage. Her ability to control Parliament by calling them and disciplining them when they disobeyed her wishes allowed her to maintain control and to manage a difficult financial situation. 

At the local level, the government was successful. However, this was reliant on local individuals who were unpaid. Without their ability to maintain law and order, the acts and laws created by Elizabeth and Parliament would not have been possible.  

The success of the Elizabethan government slightly declined towards the end of her reign. With the deaths of William Cecil and Francis Walsingham, the Privy Council was weakened as their successors lacked the same experience and working relationship with Elizabeth. Additionally, Elizabeth’s advancing age made her more cautious and slower to make decisions, which reduced the government's effectiveness compared to the earlier years of her reign. 

Local Government

• The queen did not travel often outside of London, so she relied upon the local government to keep law and order in England

The Lord Lieutenant 

• The queen chose wealthy landowners, often Privy Councillors to become Lord Lieutenants 

• One Lord Lieutenant was appointed for each county. They were in charge of:

  • Informing the queen of what was happening in the local area 

  • The local militia 

  • Supervising the Justices of the Peace (JPs) 

The sheriff 

• Each county also had a sheriff 

• The sheriffs were mainly responsible for legal affairs, such as 

  • Appointing juries 

  • Swearing in juries 

  • Delivering prisoners to court 

  • Helping with the collection of taxes 

• Over time, the role of the sheriff declined in importance, and many responsibilities were passed on to others 

Justices of the Peace (JPs) 

• Each county had approximately 30 and 60 JPs

• A JP was usually a wealthy country gentleman 

  • They were chosen by the Lord Lieutenant 

• This was an unpaid, voluntary position 

• The role usually gave a JP a lot of status and power within their own communities 

• A JP was responsible for 

  • Organising the parish constable 

  • Sitting as justices in the quarter session courts 

  • Fixing prices and wages

  • Checking weights and measures in shops, pubs, and markets 

  • Looking after the poor and unemployed 

  • Organising legal documents for apprenticeships 

  • Overseeing the maintenance of highways

The parish constable 

• Parish Constables were appointed by the Justice of the Peace to help with the day-to-day policing 

• The parish constable tended to be a tradesman or husbandman from the local area  

  • This was a 1-year, unpaid position 

• They were responsible for 

  • Watching vagabonds 

  • Carrying out punishments 

  • Preventing trespassing and poaching 

  • Keep order in local areas, including taverns 

• The night watchman would help the parish constable to patrol the streets at night 

The overseer of the poor 

• Overseers of the poor were  appointed by the Justice of the Peace to help give relief to the poor

• Their main responsibility was to organise and collect the local tax from their local community 

  • This tax would also be distributed to the poor by the overseer 

The Role of Parliament 

• The Elizabethan Parliament was not as powerful as it is today 

  • Parliament only met when Elizabeth called it 

  • It ended when Elizabeth closed it down 

• Like today parliament was made up of two bodies 

  • The House of Lords 

    • Contained about 100 lords, bishops, and judges 

    • Mostly nobles and bishops

    • Chosen by the monarch 

  • The House of Commons

    • Contained 450 Members of Parliament (MPs)

    • Mostly nobility and gentry, with some lawyers and merchants  

    • Chosen by election 

• During Elizabeth’s reign, parliament only opened ten times 

  • For 26 years, there was no parliament at all 

• Elizabeth called parliament to 

  • Ask parliament to grant money from taxes 

  • To pass Acts of Parliament 

  • Support and advice from her MPs

Taxation & Freedom of Speech 

Taxation 

• Monarchs were expected to pay for the cost of running the country using their own finances 

• They gained their income from 

  • Rents on royal property and estates 

  • Custom duties from imports and exports 

• If a monarch needed more money, they could ask Parliament to grant them money from taxes 

• Elizabeth was required to do this multiple times during her reign because 

  • England was in debt from previous reigns 

    • Queen Mary I left Elizabeth with a debt of £227,000

  • The country was involved in foreign wars 

    • Such as the war with Phillip II of Spain 

  • High inflation in the country 

• Throughout her reign, Elizabeth attempted to resolve these financial issues 

• William Cecil started a program of economic savings by 

  • Capping court salaries 

  • Reducing the spending of the royal household 

• Local taxation increased during Elizabeth’s reign 

• Although there was some success in reducing the debt, the Crown remained in debt and required the help of Parliament 

  • For example, the Marian debt was paid off by 1574 

Freedom of speech 

• Elizabeth appointed the Speaker of the House of Commons 

  • The speaker decided what topics could be discussed 

  • Certain topics were not allowed to be discussed in Parliament, including 

    • Religion 

    • Foreign policy 

    • Marriage 

• In 1571, MPs attempted to discuss marriage 

  • Elizabeth informed them that they had no right to discuss such personal issues 

• Later in 1587, five MPs were arrested 

  • They wanted to discuss changes to the Church of England 

  • Elizabeth demanded that MPs stop talking about the Church