There was to be an end to all arbitrary power.

There were to be free and full Parliaments once in three years at farthest; there was to be no violent interference in future with the process of Parliament, no exclusion of any persons that had been duly returned by the constituencies; and his Highness and Council were not to make ordinances by their own authority, but all laws, and changes or abrogations of laws, were to be by Act of Parliament.
Oliver was to be King, if he chose, and a King with very large powers; but he was to keep within Statute.[1] [Footnote 1: Whitlocke, IV.

286 and 289; Commons Journals of March 2, 3, and 24, 1656-7, and March 25, 1657 (whence I have recovered the original wording of Article I.of the Address).] On March 2 and 3 the First Article of the Address was debated, with the result that it was agreed to _postpone_ any vote on the first and most important part of the Article, offering Oliver the Kingship, but with the passing of the second part, offering him, whether it should be as King or not, the power of nominating his successor.

A motion for postponing the vote on this part also was lost by 120 to 63.

Then, on the 5th, Article II., proposing Parliaments of _two Houses_, was discussed, and adopted without a division; after which there were discussions and adoptions of the remaining proposals, day after day, with occasional divisions about the wording, till March 24.