There have been several Triennial Acts, but the first one received Royal Assent on 16th February 1641. The purpose of the act was to require that Parliament meet for at least a fifty day session, once every three years. It doesn’t sound much, does it. But this was during the reign of King Charles I, who had a bit of a dislike of other people seeking to have a say in how his England was governed. This act was a response to Charles I’s attempts to rule without Parliament for long periods, particularly during his Personal Rule from 1629 to 1640. The law aimed to prevent future monarchs from governing without parliamentary approval. However, the act became ineffective during the English Civil War and was later replaced by the weaker Triennial Act of 1664, which removed Parliament’s ability to convene itself and restored the king’s control over when it was called.
The Triennial Act of 1664 was passed during the reign of King Charles II in England. It replaced an earlier Triennial Act from 1641, which had required that Parliament meet at least once every three years to limit the king’s ability to rule without it. The 1664 Act weakened this requirement by stating that Parliament should meet at least once every three years but did not provide a way to enforce it if the king chose to ignore it. Unlike the 1641 Act, which allowed Parliament to convene itself if the king failed to do so, the 1664 version left it entirely up to the monarch. As a result, Charles II was able to rule for long periods without calling Parliament, effectively undermining the purpose of the original Triennial Act. This act remained in effect until it was replaced by the stronger Triennial Act of 1694, which ensured more regular parliamentary elections and limited the monarchy’s power over Parliament.
The Triennial Act of 1694 was passed by the English Parliament during the reign of William III and Mary II to limit the power of the monarchy and ensure regular elections. It required that general elections be held at least once every three years and that no Parliament could last longer than three years. This act was intended to prevent the king from keeping a compliant Parliament for long periods without elections, as had happened in the past. The law led to more frequent elections and increased political competition between the Whigs and Tories, but it also caused instability due to rapid changes in government. In 1716, the Triennial Act was repealed and replaced by the Septennial Act, which extended the maximum duration of Parliament to seven years to reduce political turmoil and provide greater stability. Despite its repeal, the Triennial Act of 1694 was an important step in strengthening parliamentary democracy and limiting royal influence.