A new constitution was promulgated on 18 July 1961, replacing the unicameralLegislative Council with the legislature. The new body consisted of a 13-member Senate and a 36-member Legislative Assembly.[1] Whilst the 13 members of the Senate were nominated, the Legislative Assembly was elected, and consisted of 35 members elected in single-member constituencies, and a Speaker elected by the elected MPs.[1]
Although the PPP had only received 1.6% more of the vote than the PNC, it won almost double the number of seats. This resulted in mass demonstrations led by the PNC, a general strike and severe inter-racial violence. A few weeks after the elections the British authorities intervened by sending in troops and the Governor declared a state of emergency.[2]
Further constitutional amendments in 1964 scrapped the legislature, replacing it with a unicameral House of Assembly elected by proportional representation. The legislature was dissolved on 25 September 1964.[1]