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Content Enable editor Use plain text Code entry The Council (Junta) Despite his wide powers, the governor was careful to avoid taking full responsibility for policies not defined by royal decrees or contrary to them. To immunize himself, at least partially, against the anger of the king and the Council for disobeying royal law, he often convoked a junta of the chief administrative, military, and religious leaders of the colony. This body acted as the governor’s unofficial advisory council and decided or affirmed policies to be carried out in emergencies or in cases when the required action deviated from normal procedures. The junta ordinarily consisted of the governor, treasurer, accountant, sergeant major, auxiliary bishop, curate of the church, guardian of the convent, an infantry captain, and infantry lieutenant, three second lieutenants, and a military engineer. [Note: Testimonio de diferentes instrumentos que remitten a S.M. y sus oficiales de su Real y Supremo Consejo de estas Indias, el Governador y Oficiales Reales del Presidio de la Florida, 11/23/1734. This was the makeup of the junta which met on that date.] Membership on the junta varied according to the wishes of the governor or the availability of certain officials, but it usually represented all groups within the colony. Under the law the junta had no real power or no official standing except in two cases. In 1702... In 1740... Otherwise the junta had no rights or permanent status. It met at the whim of the governor, who dissolved it after its deliberations were concluded. (Tepaske GSF)

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