The term Convention Parliament has been applied to three different English
Parliaments, of 1399, 1660 and 1689.
The definition of the term convention parliament is generally taken to be:
A parliament which does not derive its authority or legitimacy from an existing or previously enacted parliamentary action
or process.
Convention Parliament of 1399
The first example of a convention parliament (a parliament which is not often referred to as a 'convention parliament' but is
always recognised as being one) in September 1399, came about as a result of the deposition of King Richard II of England and a parliament which accepted Henry
Bolingbroke as King Henry IV of England.
Convention Parliament of 1660
The second example is the Convention Parliament also known as the English Convention which was elected in April
1660. It was elected after the Rump of the
Long Parliament had finally voted for its own dissolution. Elected as a "free
parliament", i.e. with no oath of allegiance to the Commonwealth or to the monarchy, it was predominantly Royalist in its membership. It assembled for the first time on the April
25, 1660.
The Convention, after the Declaration of Breda had been received, proclaimed on
8 May that King Charles II had been the lawful
monarch since the death of Charles I in January
1649. The Convention Parliament then proceeded to conduct the necessary preparation for the Restoration Settlement. These preparations included the necessary provisions to deal with land and
funding such that the new régime could operate.
Reprisals against the establishment which had developed under Oliver Cromwell were
constrained under the terms of the Indemnity and Oblivion Act which became
law on 29 August, 1660. Nonetheless there were prosecutions
against those accused of regicide, the direct participation in the trial and execution of
Charles I.
The Convention Parliament was dissolved by Charles II on 29 December 1660. The succeeding parliament was elected in May 1661, and was called the Cavalier Parliament. It set about both systematic dismantling of all the legislation and
institutions which had been introduced during the Interregnum, and the confirming of
the Acts of the Convention Parliament.
Convention Parliament of 1689
-
The third example of a convention parliament is the first parliament of the 'Glorious
Revolution' of 1688.
This parliament, which met in 1689 after the departure of King James II of England, was not summoned by the King. It decided that he had abdicated by fleeing the
capital and throwing the Great Seal of the Realm in the River Thames. It also offered the throne jointly to King William
III and Queen Mary II, formally recognising Prince William of Orange as King
by passing the Bill of Rights 1689.
Features of the convention parliaments
The features which unite the three convention parliaments and which mandate their status as convention parliaments, are:
- The recognition by the convention of the preceding parliamentary process as having come to an end of its powers in terms of
determining future parliamentary proceedings
- The implicit self-empowerment of the parliamentary convention to act in place of the preceding process, thereby establishing
its own legitimacy in determining the future of parliamentary proceedings
See also
Footnotes
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