How was New France organised as a colony?

From 1663 New France was a Royal province of France governed by a tripartite structure of Governor, Intendant, and Sovereign Council, all reporting to the King through the Minister of Marine. Before 1663, New France had been administered by chartered companies (notably the Compagnie des Cent-Associés or Hundred Associates from 1627 to 1663). King Louis XIV's minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert ended company administration in 1663 and brought New France under direct royal administration, modelled on the French provincial system.

The Governor (Gouverneur général de la Nouvelle-France) was the King's senior representative in New France. He was responsible for military matters, defence, diplomatic relations with Indigenous peoples and neighbouring colonies, and ceremonial duties. The Governor lived in Quebec City at the Château Saint-Louis. Notable Governors included Louis de Buade, Comte de Frontenac (1672 to 1682 and 1689 to 1698), Philippe de Rigaud de Vaudreuil (1703 to 1725), and Pierre de Rigaud de Vaudreuil de Cavagnial (1755 to 1760, the last Governor before the Conquest).

The Intendant was responsible for civil administration, justice, finance, public works, and economic development. Created by Colbert in 1663, the Intendant was often the most powerful day-to-day administrator in the colony. The first major Intendant was Jean Talon (1665 to 1668 and 1670 to 1672), who promoted population growth, agricultural diversification, and industrial development. Other notable Intendants included Gilles Hocquart (1729 to 1748) and François Bigot (1748 to 1760, whose corruption was a notable factor in New France's late administrative weakness).

The Sovereign Council (renamed the Superior Council in 1703) was the colony's high court of appeal and chief deliberative body. It registered royal edicts, heard civil and criminal appeals, and advised on policy. The Council included the Governor, Intendant, Bishop of Quebec, Attorney General, and several other councillors. New France was further organised into three districts (gouvernements), namely Quebec, Trois-Rivières, and Montreal, each with its own local Governor. The Catholic Church under the Bishop of Quebec (the Diocese of Quebec was erected in 1674 under Bishop François de Laval) administered education, hospitals, parishes, and missions. Municipal government in the modern sense did not exist; local affairs were handled by the seigneurs, the militia captain (capitaine de milice), and the parish priest (curé).