curia regis

Government by institutions of the royal court or household. In medieval times there was no separation of powers, and administrative and judicial powers were controlled by the court. Although some institutions such as the exchequer, which collected taxes, or the chancery, which drew up official government documents, eventually ‘went out of court’ to become fixed departments of state, they were often replaced by miniature versions of the original office which remained under direct royal supervision, such as the privy seal. The court only really ceased to be the main administrative centre of the country in the 18th century, but it retained considerable political influence into the 19th century. The most notable modern remnant of the court system is the Privy Council.