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Question: What was a Parliament in Elizabethan england!? how does it differ from Parliament today!?
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During the Elizabethan period, the Monarch was a full active participant in government!. Today, she theoretically and legally still is, but she is hands off by tradition!.

All the roles done by the Prime Minister today was done by the Monarch back then!.

The technical term was / is the "Queen (or King) in Parliament"!. Basically, Monarch combined with the two Houses formed Parliament!. The Queen did / does have a Privy Council which advises her!. The modern Prime Minister and Cabinet are technically the "Cabinet Committee of the Privy Council"!. What we think of the functioning government of Britain today, the Cabinet, is technically a subset of the Queen's closest advisers!.

Back then, it was just the Privy Council!. The council was / is made up of leading members of both houses and other important people on whose advice the Queen relied!.

also, back then, both Houses of Parliament were equal!. Actually, the House of Lords, because of their wealth and station, were a little higher!. However, both Houses had to approve any bill just like the US Congress!.

The Queen did /does have the power to veto any bill!. Today, she still can, but by tradition, she does not!. It would have to be one big mess for her to do so!.

The Queen did / does have the power to propose legislation directly to the houses and lobby for their passage!. She does not today out of tradition and political realities!. She still submits proposals, but they are given to her to submit by the sitting government!.

also, back then, there was no Prime Minister!. There would not be one until the reign of George I!. He couldn't speak English so they needed someone to run the meetings!. After that, the monarchs could speak English, but the politicians got a taste of power and were not going to give it up so we got stuck with Gordon Brown!.

Elizabeth I was head of state and head of government like the modern US President!. In fact, it is this example that people the founding fathers used to create the office of President!. The irony is that by the time they did, the position of the monarch was no longer that way!.


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