Note 15 — Chapter VI · THE AUDIENCIA AND THE GOVERNOR: GENERAL RELATIONS

The audiencia intervened in the matter of appointments in two ways. In case it succeeded to the government on the death of the governor the tribunal exercised all the prerogatives of appointment.15 When the governor was present he was obliged to refer the names of all candidates to the acuerdo.16 This was made necessary because the governor, being new to the Islands and unfamiliar with local conditions, was not so well fitted to pass upon the merits of candidates for office as were the oidores who had become permanently identified with the interests of the colony and whose opinion was of weight in these matters. Thus it came about that the audiencia exercised joint authority with the governor in making appointments.17 The question of the relative authority of the audiencia and governor in making appointments was a source of conflict throughout the history of the Islands.