Court of assistants

A court of assistants is a council of members belonging to a professional, trade, craft or livery companies.

The term originated among the London livery companies, as 'certain senior members who manage the affairs of the City of London Companies',[1] but may also be used by other trade associations. A court of assistants usually comprises the governing body of such organisations, and may include the officials, as in the case of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers founded in 1631: "The governing body of the Company is the Court of Assistants, comprising the Master, three Wardens and not less than ten Assistants."[2]

Another example is the Honourable Artillery Company, which has an annual General Court open to all members: it meets in March to elect 20 Assistants. The company is governed in its civil and financial affairs by the Court of Assistants, which was first established in 1633.[3]

  1. ^ C. T. Onions (ed. and rev.), The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary 3rd Edition (Clarendon Press, Oxford 1964 revision): the term is capitalized.
  2. ^ "The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers". Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
  3. ^ "Court of Assistants". Archived from the original on 2012-03-30. Retrieved 2011-09-30.