Note 73 — Chapter III · THE JUDICIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE AUDIENCIA

The consulado was an organization of the merchants of certain authorized cities of the Spanish empire. A consulado had to be established by royal authorization. The tribunal of the consulado was composed of two consuls and a prior, who were chosen for terms of two years and one year respectively. They were chosen by twelve electors who in turn were designated by the members of the consulado. The tribunal de alzadas was composed of an oidor and two merchants. The latter constituted the final court of appeal in the colony in commercial cases and exception to their decisions could be taken only in the Council of the Indies.—Martínez de Zúñiga, Estadismo, 245–246.