GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS

Vocabulary

• Suffrage: the right to vote in general elections

• Stipulation: requirement

• Allegiance: loyalty or commitment to a subordinate or superior

• Passion: very strong emotion

• Campaign: work in an organised way to achieve a goal

• Complacent: satisfied with yourself in a very smug way

• Accessible: able to be reached

• Franchise: the right to vote

Vocabulary

• Cite: quote as evidence for an argument

• Electorate: all those who have the right to vote

• Constitution: the laws by which a country or state is governed

• Limited: subject to barriers which prevent access by all persons

• Legislature: the law-making body of a state

• Manifesto: a document produced by members of a political party outlining how they would govern the country if they are successful in an election

Monarch

Governor

Appointed by the

Crown/Monarch

Council

Chosen by the

Governor

Assembly

Elected from among

the white planters and

merchants

Monarch

Governor

Appointed by the

Crown/Monarch

Council

All appointed by the

Governor

Monarch

Governor

Appointed by the

Crown/Monarch

Legislative Council

6 appointed members

7 elected members

12 ex-officio members

Old Representative

System

1600s

Crown Colony

Government

1802

Representative

Government

1925

Assembly abolished!

Now allowed to

elect some

members to the

Legislative

Council

Chief Minister

Premier

Independence: Governor’s role split into

Head of State and Head of Government

1956

Representative

Government

1959

Internal Self-Government

1962

Constitutional Monarchy

Republic

(1976)

All ties to England cut; T&T now a sovereign nation. President

replaces Governor-General and Monarch as Head of State.

COMPARISONS

Crown Colony Government

(1802)Constitutional Monarchy

Independence (1962)

Systems of Government in Trinidad and Tobago

Constitutional Monarchy

Independence (1962)

Republic

(1976)

Systems of Government in Trinidad and Tobago

Crown Colony

Government

(1802)

Constitutional Monarchy

Independence

(1962)

Republic

(1976)

Systems of Government in Trinidad and Tobago

THE HISTORY

1660s: Old Representative System

Monarch

Governor

Appointed by the

Crown/Monarch

Council

Chosen by the

Governor

Assembly

Elected from among

the white planters and

merchants

• The first form of

government used by

Britain to rule the colonies

was the Old

Representative System.

• The problem with this

system was that the

Assembly acted in their

own interests and ignored

the wishes of the Colonial

Office in England.

• The Assembly was a “law

unto themselves.”

1800s: Crown Colony Government

Monarch

Governor

Appointed by the

Crown/Monarch

Council

Chosen by the

Governor

• A decision was taken to change

the system of government for the

colonies.

• Crown Colony Government was

introduced in which the Assembly

was removed.

• Under this system the Colonial

Office in England had more

control over the colonies.

• Citizens did not have the right

to elect representatives to the

government.

Representative Government

(slide 1 of 3)

• In 1922 the Wood Commission

recommended constitutional reform (citizens

should be allowed to elect at least some

members to the Legislative Council).

• The local population was granted the

opportunity to elect 7 members to the

Legislative Council (7/26)

• At this time there were no political parties; only

individuals campaigned.

1925: Representative Government

(slide 2 of 3)

• In the 1925 election the Governor introduced

LIMITED FRANCHISE. Persons wishing to vote

had to meet certain stipulations/requirements:

– Men had to be over 21 years of age

– Women had to be over 30 years of age

– Understand/speak English

– Must earn high income or own property of a

certain value

• 90% of the population was disqualified from voting!

1925: Representative

Government (slide 3 of 3)

• Governor still controlled

the government!

• 27,794 voted out of

365,913 total population

• 90% of the population

was disqualified from

voting!

Monarch

Governor

Appointed by the

Crown/Monarch

Legislative Council

6 appointed members

7 elected members

12 ex-officio members

• Large-scale protests because 90% disqualified from

voting

• During the 1930s T&T was in an economic depression:

– Widespread unemployment

– Low wages

• Malnutrition

• Poor housing

• Poverty

• Larger number of Africans and East Indians were now

more educated and aware of their rights

• War veterans returned from war bringing ideas of self-

governance and independence

• High taxes

• Development of Trade Unionism after the Oilfield

Workers Strikes of 1937 led by Butler

THERE WAS URGENT NEED FOR POLITICAL REFORM

Granting of Adult Suffrage

• 1934: Trinidad Labour Party formed by Captain Cipriani

• 1936: Trinidad Citizens League formed by Uriah Butler

• 1939: Moyne Commission recommended lowering of the

voting stipulations

• 1945: Adult Suffrage granted. All adult citizens over the

age of 21 were granted the right to vote. All other

requirements were removed.

• 1946: 1st election with Adult Suffrage was held.

– 9 people elected to LC

– Formation of more political parties

• 1950: 18 people elected to LC from different parties /

none dominant

1956: Introduction of Chief Minister

• LC = 31 members:

– 24 elected

– 5 nominated by governor

– 2 ex-officio)

• Party system more organised

• PNM Majority

(13/24 of elected LC

members)

• NB: in 1956 provision was

made for election of a Chief

Minister and other Ministers

by the members of the

Council

Monarch

Governor

Appointed by the

Crown/Monarch

Legislative Council

Chief Minister:

Dr. Eric Williams

1959:

Internal

Self-Government

• Cabinet government

introduced

Monarch

Governor

No longer member of

the Executive Council

Premier

Dr. Eric Williams

Cabinet

Premier now had the

right to appoint the

Ministers

• Queen was still the Head of State

but she was represented by a

Governor-General, Sir Solomon

Hochoy (limited powers)

• Real power lay with the elected

representatives in Parliament

• Gov’t had full control of the

country’s affairs without

interference from Britain

– Own constitution

– Own national

flag/motto/emblems etc

– Own army

1962: Independence

Constitutional

Monarchy

1976: Republic

• No more Governor or

Governor-General

• Head of State now

the President, Sir

Ellis Clarke

• New Republican

Constitution written

• T&T now a

Sovereign State

President

Head of State

Prime Minister

Head of Government

Cabinet

Ministers selected

from the Upper and

Lower House

Parliament

•Senate

•House of Representatives

EX

EC

UT

IVE

LE

GIS

LA

TU

RE

1922 Wood Commission:

Constitutional Reform

Locals granted right to elect 7

members to the

Legislative Council however

those qualified to vote:

- Men over 21

- Women over 30

- Understand English

-High income / own property

Limited franchise!

1925

election: 90%

of the

population

disqualified

from voting

FRUSTRATION

& PROTEST

ACTION

Masses wanted local

representation:• High taxes

• Increased accessibility to education

made people more aware of their

rights

• Returning war veterans brought

ideas of self-governance and

independence

• Increasing numbers of Africans and

East Indians wanted equality

Moyne Commission (1939)recommended lowering of the

stipulations used to determine

the electorate

Adult suffrage (1945):

all adult citizens over

the age of 21 given

right to vote!

July 1, 1946:

first election

with adult

suffrage!

1934: Trinidad Labour Party (TLP)

First Political Party in T&T

(Captain A.A. Cipriani)

1936: Trinidad Citizen’s League (TCL)

Adrian Cola Rienzi and Tubal Uriah Butler

People’s National Movement

(PNM) became the ruling

party from 1956-1986

1956: Chief Minister (24/31 elected members)

1959: Internal Self-Government

(Premier appoints Cabinet Ministers)

1962: Independence

(Prime Minister + Parliament)

1976: Republic

Crown Colony

Government

1802Citizens did not have

the right to vote