VOTING AND PARTY POLITICS · Systems of Government in Trinidad and Tobago. Crown Colony Government...
Transcript of VOTING AND PARTY POLITICS · Systems of Government in Trinidad and Tobago. Crown Colony Government...
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