In the first place, unlike the Council of Virginia, which could only amend or reject the action of the lower house, the assistants had the right of originating laws.
Then the custom at the annual elections of first putting the names of the incumbents to the vote made the tenure of its members a pretty constant affair.

Next, as a court, it exercised for years a vast amount of discretionary power.

Not till 1641 was the first code, called the _Body of Liberties_, adopted, and this code itself permitted the assistants to supply any defect in the law by the "word of God," a phrase which to the followers of Calvin had especial reference to the fierce legislation of the Old Testament.
The course of the colonial authorities speedily jeopardized the charter which they obtained so readily from the king.

Upon the arrival in England, in 1631, of Morton, Gardiner, and other victims of the court of assistants, they communicated with Gorges (now powerfully assisted by John Mason); and he gladly seized upon their complaints to accuse the ministers and people of Massachusetts of railing against the state and church of England, and of an evident purpose of casting off their allegiance at the first favorable opportunity.

The complaint was referred, in December, 1632, to a committee of the council,[15] before whom the friends of the company in London--Cradock, Saltonstall, and Humphrey--filed a written answer.