The Instrument of Government and First Protectorate Parliament

When was the Instrument of Government adopted?

15th December 1653

When was Cromwell sworn in as Lord Protector?

16th December

Did Cromwell know the Instrument was being declared?

Yes- he had held discussions with Lambert and army officers in November

What three branches of government did the Instrument divide power between?

Parliament

Executive Council

Lord Protector

How many members did Parliament have?

400 from England and Wales

30 from Scotland

30 from Ireland

What were the new rules in terms of length of P and when they should be called?

New elections had to take place within three years of the last

Parliaments had to last five months

How many members were in the Council?

Up to 21

What did the Council have control over?

Armed forces

Finance

Appointments

In what ways was Cromwell like a king?

He was granted the role as Lord Protector for life

He wore the Crown Jewels at the coronation

He lived in Hampton Court

He held executive powers

He had a court and lived a lavish lifestyle

In what ways was Cromwell not like a king?

His successor would be elected

Suffrage extended to the new middle class

He had to work with Parliament and the Executive Council

He couldn't just get rid of a Council member- had to undergo a long impeachment process

What budget was Cromwell given?

£200,000 pa

What voting rights did Royalists have?

They couldn't vote or stand for elections

When did the First Protectorate Parliament start?

3rd September 1654

How many regicides stood in P?

18

What project did Haselrig and his fellow Commonwealthsmen lead?

Project to undermine Instrument

He believed P had absolutist power

Started editing Instrument to give P power over Council and military

Why did Haselrig withdraw?

He wouldn't sign Cromwell's bill to ensure split power between Council, P and Lord Protector

Was 'The Godly Reformation' pursued?

No-

P sought to narrow toleration in line with Presbyterianism

Was any legislation passed?

No- Cromwell brought forward 84 ordinances, all failed

What led to the exclusion of 100 members?

Cromwell obliged all members to take an oath of allegiance to the Protectorate- 100 rejected

What loophole did Cromwell use to dissolve P?

Used lunar months (28 days) as the rule had just stated 5 months- didn't specify

When was P dissolved?

22nd January 1655

What did its dissolution lead to?

Rule under Major Generals