Instrument of Government

Long ago, new rules were made for the land.

These rules were called the Instrument of Government. They were the first written rules of their kind.

A man named Oliver Cromwell became the leader. He was called the Lord Protector. He was meant to lead for his whole life.

But the leader could not do everything alone. A group of people helped him make choices. This helped stop him from having too much power.

The rules also helped build a big army. They also helped build a navy for the sea. These groups helped keep the land safe.

These rules changed how the land was run. They were used for a few years. Then, new rules were made to take their place.

The Instrument of Government was a very important set of rules. It was the first written constitution for England, Scotland, and Ireland.

A man named John Lambert wrote these rules in 1653. They used ideas from an older plan called the Heads of Proposals. These rules split the power of the land into three parts. The first part was the leader, called the Lord Protector. Oliver Cromwell became the first Lord Protector in 1653. He was meant to hold this job for his whole life.

The second part was the Parliament. This group made the laws. The third part was a Council of State. This group had about twenty members. They gave advice to the leader. The leader could not make big choices without them. For example, he needed them to declare war. This helped make sure the leader was not an absolute ruler.

The rules also helped build a large army. It included 10,000 cavalry and 20,000 infantry. The rules also allowed for a navy to guard the seas. These rules lasted until 1657. Then, a new set of rules took their place.

The Instrument of Government was a very special set of rules. It was the first written constitution for England, Scotland, and Ireland.

A constitution is a document that explains how a country should be run. This one was very important because it changed how power worked. Before this, England had a King. After a big conflict, the people decided to try something new. They wanted a system with clear laws for everyone to follow.

This new system split the government into three different parts. The first part was the executive power. This was held by a leader called the Lord Protector. The second part was the legislative power. This was held by a group called Parliament. The third part was the Council of State. This council had about twenty members. They helped the leader by giving advice.

The leader could not act alone on big things. He needed a majority of the council to agree to declare war. He also needed them to help use the military.

Many people helped shape these rules over time. A man named John Lambert drafted the document in 1653. He used ideas from an older plan called the Heads of Proposals. That older plan came from the Army Council in 1647. The rules also included ideas from the Rump Parliament. In 1649, that Parliament declared England was a Commonwealth. This meant they would rule without a King or a House of Lords.

There were many specific details in the document. The Lord Protector was meant to hold his office for life. Parliament had to meet at least every three years. Each session of Parliament had to last for five months. The rules also set up a large standing army. This army included 10,000 cavalry and 20,000 infantry soldiers. The document also allowed for a navy to guard the seas.

To vote for Parliament, a person had to own property worth at least £200.

Oliver Cromwell became the first Lord Protector in 1654. He ruled for a short time before things changed again. In January 1655, he dissolved the Parliament. This led to a time of military rule by Major Generals. The Instrument of Government was replaced in May 1657. A new document called the Humble Petition and Advice took its place. Some people say this history is part of the heritage of the United States. This is because English settlers had already moved to North America by then.

The Instrument of Government was a landmark document in political history. It served as the first codified and written constitution for the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

A constitution is a formal set of rules that defines how a government operates. This document was significant because it moved away from the traditional rule of monarchs. Instead, it established a structured system of shared powers. It aimed to create a stable way to govern these three nations together.

The document functioned by dividing government authority into three distinct branches. The first branch held executive power, which was assigned to the Lord Protector. This leader was intended to hold the office for life, though the position was elective rather than hereditary. The second branch held legislative power, which resided in a unicameral Parliament. A unicameral system means there was only one house of lawmakers rather than two. The third branch was the English Council of State. This council consisted of about twenty members who provided essential advice to the executive.

These branches were designed to work together through a system of checks and balances. For example, the Lord Protector had the authority to veto a bill passed by Parliament. However, if a second majority vote occurred after twenty days, the bill could still pass. The Council of State also held significant influence over the Lord Protector's actions. Many major decisions, such as declaring war or making peace, required a majority consent from the council. The council also had the power to nominate ministers and elect a new Lord Protector after a death.

The history of this constitution began with several earlier political shifts. In 1647, the Army Council offered a set of constitutional proposals called the Heads of Proposals. Although King Charles I rejected these, the ideas remained influential. Later, on January 4, 1649, the Rump Parliament declared that supreme power resided in the people and the House of Commons. This led to the abolition of the monarchy and the House of Lords. By May 1649, England was officially declared a Commonwealth, meaning it would be governed without a King.

Major-General John Lambert drafted the Instrument of Government in 1653. The Council of Officers adopted the document on December 15, 1653. The very next day, Oliver Cromwell was installed as the first Lord Protector. The document also included very specific military requirements for national security. It authorized a standing army consisting of 10,000 cavalry, known as horse and dragoons, and 20,000 infantry, or foot soldiers. Additionally, it provided for a navy to guard the seas, though it did not specify a set number of ships.

There were strict rules regarding who could participate in the new government. To be an elector, a person was required to hold property worth at least £200. The constitution also placed specific restrictions on who could hold office or vote. For instance, Royalists and Catholics were disbarred from election or voting. Parliament was also required to follow a strict schedule. It had to be called triennially, meaning every three years, and each session had to last at least five months.

The Instrument of Government did not remain in power indefinitely. In January 1655, Oliver Cromwell dissolved the Parliament. This led to a period of military rule led by the Major Generals. Eventually, the document was replaced in May 1657 by a new constitution called the Humble Petition and Advice. Despite its short life, the document has lasting connections to other parts of the world. Because English settlers had established colonies in North America by 1607 and 1620, the United States sometimes views this document as part of its own political and legal heritage.