Sovereign Council of New France

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The Sovereign Council of New France was a political body appointed by the King of France and consisting of a Governor General, an intendant and a bishop of the Roman Catholic Church. All of them answered to the French Minister of the Marine. The members of the council were chosen as part of the French nobility.

The introduction of this government cancelled the contract with the Compagnie de la Nouvelle France which apparently had failed to organize the establishment of thousands of colonists in America.

The institution lasted from its introduction in 1663 to the fall of New France in 1760. Its last meeting occurred on April 28, 1760, day of the Battle of Sainte-Foy.

As early as June 16, 1703, the King of France refers to the council as the Conseil Supérieur instead of the former Conseil Souverain.

[edit] Composition

The Sovereign Council included nine officials who were fully responsible for all legislative, executive, and judicial matters. It made rules and enacted laws concernikng the day-to-day affairs of the colony

• The governor of this new regime was the direct representative of the king of France and was responsible for defense and diplomatic relations.
• The intendant was responsible for economic affairs and trade, the administration of justice, finance, settlement and seigneurialism.
• The bishop was in control of religious affairs, which included charity, education, hospitals and the Christianization of Amerindians.
• The Captain of the Militia informed the inhabitants of the Intendant's plans for the development for the colony, reported on the concerns of the people, and tallied the census.
• Five councillors served as a Court of Appeal and as a governing body, and they formed the colony's senior court of law. In 1703, the number of councillors was increased to 12. Prior to 1675 the councillors were appointed by the Governor General and thereafter by the King alone.^[1]

[edit] Members of the Council

[edit] Governor General of New France

[edit] Intendant of New France

The Indendant was President of the Council.

[edit] Bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Quebec

• Captains of the Militia - head of militia units in each parish in New France
• Procurator General of New France
• Registrar of New France

[edit] See also

• New France
• Timeline of Quebec history
• List of Governors General of Canada

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Les conseillers au Conseil souverain de la Nouvelle-France, Pierre-Georges Roy (The Consellors of the Sovereign Council of New France)

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