Tudors and Stuarts 1558-1667Tudors and Stuarts 1558-1667Government and PoliticsGovernment and PoliticsLocal GovernmentLocal Government

Local Government• Generally local government duties were

performed by landowners and merchants.• They were unpaid for these duties• Lesser positions were filled by farmers, small

traders and craftsmen

Local Government• Sheriffs were appointed to lead the county

governments.• The appointment was made annually• The sheriff was assisted by an under sheriff and

clerks and bailiffs• His duties included:Administering justiceCollecting taxLaw and orderOverseeing elections

Local Government• Justices of the peace held more power than

the sheriff• They were usually of noble birth• It was a busy position and quite prestigious• The position was mainly a policing role• They decided on issues of bail and custody• In pairs they could try less serious offences• At the quarter sessions they could hear

capital offences• They had input into decisions concerning the

running of the county

Local Government• Armed forces within the county came under

the jurisdiction of commissioners of musters or deputy-lieutenants

• Justices of the peace were used for these positions

Local Government• Other positions such as Commissions for

Sewers and Commission for Charitable Uses were filled by wealthy farmers, townspeople or clergy

Local Government• There was a constable appointed to each

parish• This position was filled by election or by

appointment by a justice of the peace• He held police powers and could collect

revenues

Local Government• Other parish positions included:• Churchwarden• Overseers of the poor• Surveyors of the highways

Local Government• Local government was under the jurisdiction

of central government

BibliographyHistory volume 2, Britain 1558-1667, by Robin Silcock, Longman Paul, Auckland, 1990

www.schoolhistory.co.nz

REVISION:

• When you have completed the PowerPoints and related worksheets get students to mind-map the ‘Government and Politics’ topics covered:

• The Crown• The Privy Council• Courts of Law• Local Government• Parliament’• If you are unfamiliar with the basic concepts of mind-mapping

then check the ‘Mind mapping with Tony Buzan’ video found on the www.schoolhistory.co.nz site and show