 By the end of the English Civil War , the monarchy , House of Lords , and Privy Council had been abolished . The remaining parliamentary chamber , the House of Commons , instituted a Council of State to execute laws and to direct administrative policy . The forty @-@ one members of the Council were elected by the House of Commons ; the body was headed by Oliver Cromwell , de facto military dictator of the nation . In 1653 , however , Cromwell became Lord Protector , and the Council was reduced to between thirteen and twenty @-@ one members , all elected by the Commons . In 1657 , the Commons granted Cromwell even greater powers , some of which were reminiscent of those enjoyed by monarchs . The Council became known as the Protector 's Privy Council ; its members were appointed by the Lord Protector , subject to Parliament 's approval . 
