All the Queen's Men: Privy Council of Queen Elizabeth I

"I give you this charge, that you shall be of my Privy Council and content yourself to take pains for me and my realm. You will be faithful to the State, and that without respect of my private will, you will give me that counsel that you think best. And therefore herewith I charge you."

- Queen Elizabeth on Nov 20, 1558

A monarch has a lot on his plate, especially if he is a she. What does Her Majesty do when her empire is caught in the throes of religious upheaval? Who does she turn to when her navy faces turmoil on the high seas? With whom does she plot the civilization of distant lands? Whose support does she require when her very legitimacy is questioned, when her life hangs in the balance? Her Majesty turns to her Privy Council, of course. Who needs a husband when you have your Privy Council?

The Privy Council had its heyday under the monarchy of Queen Elizabeth I. This Council worked much like a corporate body, one of the few types of council with no set hierarchy. Each councilor had individual familial loyalties outside of the Privy Council, and made use of these connections at court to further his own interests. During her Majesty’s meetings with her noble statesman, she called upon them for advice when foreign and domestic matters flare. They make their collective decisions known through proclamations and administrative orders in the name of the Queen.

 

Background Guide

 

 

Chair - Priyanka Sethy

Priyanka Sethy is a second year from Dehra Dun, India, and is majoring in Economics, and possibly History or English. She staffed Ching Shih’s Red Fleet at ChoMUN XVII, Global Classrooms Chicago MUN, and was the Director General for ChoMUN India 2014. Although Model UN is her first love, she is involved with a bunch of organizations on campus, including but not limited to a creative writing workshop, a global youth internship program, and the campus fashion magazine. Priyanka is very excited to chair Queen Elizabeth’s Privy Council. When not in the committee room, you can find her reading historical fiction, watching cricket, failing at cooking, and drinking copious amounts of tea.

Email: psethy@uchicago.edu

 

Crisis Director - Austin Zheutlin

Austin Zheutlin is a second-year is originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan although most recently from Chicago. He is undecided about his major but is leaning towards public policy and/or political science. In addition to ChoMUN and classes, Austin serves as the events organizer on the board of the Prospective Students Advisory Committee. He is really excited to be a Crisis Director for Queen Elizabeth’s Privy Council at ChoMUN XVIII because he loves British history!

 

Crisis Director - Jake Mansoor

Jake Mansoor is a rising second-year Comparative Human Development and Theatre double major. He can often be seen walking his bike around campus. He is a tight and energetic person. Jake expects to spend as much time on Queen Elizabeth's Privy Council as on his hair each morning. He hails from the greatest state in the union, New York, the land of bagels, Pizza, and Jews. He is an outstanding self-aware brother of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, within which he sparingly fulfills the role of Sentinel. He is excited to be working on this committee with Her Excellency, the Radiant Princess of Selfies, Priyanka Sethy, and his identical twin Austin Zheutlin.