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 Membre du Conseil Souverain | Member of the Sovereign Council

The Conseil Souverain, or Sovereign Council of New France, was an institution established by Louis XIV in April 1663, evolving from earlier governing bodies. The three main persons to sit on the council were the Governor General, the Bishop and the Intendant. The latter would chair any deliberations. Other members included councillors and a clerk. All members of the council reported to the Secretary of State of the Navy, and were chosen from the French nobility.

Its initial mandate was to spend public funds, oversee the activities of the fur trade, regulate trade between New France colonists and French merchants, and issue police orders. The council was also tasked with establishing a system of lower courts in Québec, Montréal, and Trois-Rivières, as well as appoint judges, bailiffs and other court officials. Essentially, the Sovereign Council was responsible for all of the colony's legislative, executive and judicial matters.

In 1703, the Sovereign Council saw its name change to the Conseil Supérieur. At this time, the number of Councillors was increased from 7 to 12. The Conseil Supérieur existed until the fall of New France in 1760. The Sovereign Council made considerable achievements in legal proceedings, agriculture, commerce, the maintenance of public order, and sanitation.

Sources:

• The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Sovereign Council”, Encyclopædia Britannica, Published 9 Jan 2018, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sovereign-Council.

• Mathieu, Jacques, "Sovereign Council", The Canadian Encyclopedia, 28 May 2018, Historica Canada, https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sovereign-council.