To what extent should changes in the relationship between monarchy and Essay

To what extent should changes in the relationship between monarchy and parliament from 1529 to 1640 be seen as arising from divisions over the future of the chu - Essay Example But it was the Crown’s longer term financial problems, exacerbated by wars, in some cases were linked to religious tensions that caused parliament long term changes in crown-parliament relation. Comparing the role of parliament before the Tudor Revolution in 1530s and after the Long Parliament in 1640, it stayed the same in general, and yet, significant changes had occurred, providing Parliament with greater power and more functions. Even after the Bishops’ Wars the power of Monarch remained unequalled and Parliament’s jurisdiction was limited mainly to aiding and advising the Crown. Still, as the Parliament evolved, its influence was extended to more and more aspects of the domestic policy. The 1530s are considered by G.R. Elton1 as a key decade in the constitutional history of Britain. Beforehand, late 15th century parliaments were occasions where the King could meet with the elites to discuss their own personal interests, but the Monarch decided when parliament should meet and it gave advice on polices only if advice was rejected. Parliament’s main functions were related to taxation, legislation, and judicial powers. The Monarch could not tax without Parliament’s consent and had to follow the laws of the realm. The King and Parliament together acted as a legislative body which made the laws of the kingdom, and parliament acted as an advisor for the king in terms of policies, though the King selected which issues he asked advice about. The House of Lords was the highest court in the kingdom, and acted as a court of law, while parliament also provided a national forum for discussing local and national grievances. Thus, Parliament acted as a representative body which G.R Elton said provided a ‘point of contact’ between the King and his subjects because it gave a chance for the King to listen to his subjects grievances. However, Parliament essentially represented the landed and urban elites, King, Lords and Commons governed in their mutual