Parliament

Seemingly dwarfed by her throne, Queen Elizabeth opens Parliament. By permission of the Folger Shakespeare Library.

Elizabeth's Parliament was summoned when she needed to give popular legitimacy to controversial policies (the Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity, for example), to change or create laws*, or to raise additional direct taxes.

Most governing was done without Parliament; even when it was in session the monarch controlled issues under debate, vetoed any undesirable bills, and dissolved Parliament at will. Occasional challenges to royal prerogative were dealt with smoothly by Elizabeth by temporary imprisonment, reproving speeches, and minor concessions; but the Commons managed nonetheless to secure for itself certain privileges, the most important of which was freedom of speech (though the Queen still decided what matters could be freely discussed).

Elections

Parliament was respected* by most Elizabethans, and considered the highest governing body of the land, uniting the monarch, nobles, and commons in a single "body politic." Of course, it was still assumed that unity of the body politic depended upon carrying out the policies of the monarch, whose will alone was the supreme source of all justice.

The two Houses of Parliament represented the upper nobility, or peerage* (the House of Lords) and the gentry (the House of Commons). They were summoned only at the will of the monarch, who sent writs to nobles and Sheriffs; the latter then notified gentry, yeomanry and burgesses, who assembled to elect two representatives for each shire.

Bills were presented three times for debate before each House, both of which had to assent to the bill in order for it to be passed (always subject to royal veto). Privy Councillors carried great influence, and it was generally known that opponents of royal policy were less likely to receive all-important royal patronage.