<P> Members of the council included ex-officio members, who served by virtue of their position . Others were appointed in order to have a representative cross-section of the diverse interests in the colony . Council members were theoretically subject to approval by the London government, either the Secretary of State for the Southern Department, or after 1768 the Secretary of State for the Colonies . In practice, the distance and delay in communications meant that a veto occurred only in rare cases . </P> <P> The council as a whole would sit as the supreme court for the colony, as was needed . On the local level, justices of the peace periodically convened a county court session . </P> <P> As with the House of Lords the council had to approve new laws, which usually originated in the legislature . The council was seen as serving continuously; whereas the elected lawmakers of the colony typically met just once a year, addressing at that time taxes, budgets, and other concerns . Like the assembly, most council positions were unpaid . </P> <P> While lawyers were prominent throughout the Thirteen Colonies, merchants were important in the northern colonies and planters were more involved in the southern provinces . These were the groups from which the appointed councilors and elected delegates were chosen . </P>

How did great britain influence american colonial government