Governor-General should have power to overrule the Council. Subsequent experience showed the necessity of still further change in the same direction. On the renewal of the Company's charter in 1796, the supreme authority of the Governor-General over the whole of India was recognised, and his power to overrule his Council in executive matters unreservedly asserted. In legislative matters he still remained dependent on a majority which the support of a single member of his Council would secure.
The Act of 1833 emphasised the distinction between the executive and legislative functions of the Government, by providing that an additional member should be added to the Executive Council when engaged in legislation. Larger powers were at the same time concentrated in the Governor-General. The legislative functions of the Madras and Bombay Councils were abolished; and even their executive independence was curtailed by the abolition of all powers of independent expenditure.
On the renewal of the Company's Charter in 1853, the Governor-General, who, under the Act of 1833, had been ex-officio Governor of Bengal, was relieved of this duty. It was physically impossible that he should discharge it, and it had, in fact, been very inadequately discharged. Some faint approach to a representative system in the Governor-General's Council was effected by the introduction of members nominated as special representatives of the several Presidencies. The Council — thus enlarged in numbers
