Probouleutic

The full probouleutic power of the senate was restored; no proposal could henceforth be submitted to the people, unless it had first been approved by the senate.

It is so easy to think that a boule must involve probouleutic activity. This normally meant that a boule not only considered in advance the subjects to be dealt with in the meetings of the assembly, but actually drew up the bills to be voted on by the assembly.

That is, to Aristotle the existence of a probouleutic body of some kind required no explanation, though the reason for its actual composition in any given city was a valid historical question.

Their probouleutic function is in place when Parliament does not proceed by commission, and when business must be digested for a house reluctant to remain long in attendance.

This probouleutic (primary discussion) format worked alongside Elizabeth's informal and ad hoc consultations with individuals.

Even when probouleutic discussion was opened up to a larger number of individuals - as on 6 October - meetings continued to operate independently of the privy council. Restricting probouleutic debate to a small group of personally selected councillors was particularly appropriate for an issue - Elizabeth's marriage - which she defined as one of the arcana imperii ('mysteries of state') reserved for her own judgement qand on which she had sought to restrict debate in council, parliament and public debate since her accession.