<P> In 1928 the British Government abolished the Dutch - influenced constitution and replaced it with a Crown colony constitution . A Legislative Council with an appointed majority was established, and the administrative powers of the Governor were strengthened . These constitutional changes were not popular among the Guyanese, who viewed them as a step backward . The franchise was extended to women . </P> <P> In 1938 the West India Royal Commission ("The Moyne Commission") was appointed to investigate the economic and social condition of all the British colonies in the Caribbean region after a number of civil and labour disturbances . Among other changes, the Commission recommended some constitutional reforms . As a result, in 1943 a majority of the Legislative Council seats became elective, the property qualifications for voters and for candidates for the Council were lowered, and the bar on women and clergy serving on the Council was abolished . The Governor retained control of the Executive Council, which had the power to veto or pass laws against the wishes of the Legislative Council . </P> <P> The next round of constitutional reforms came in 1953 . A bicameral legislature, consisting of a lower House of Assembly and an upper State Council, was established . The voting membership of the House of Assembly was entirely elective . The membership of the State Council was appointed by the Governor and the House of Assembly, and possessed limited revisionary powers . A Court of Policy became the executive body, consisting of the Governor and other colonial officials . Universal adult suffrage was instituted, and the property qualifications for office abolished . </P> <P> The election of 27 April 1953 under the new system provoked a serious constitutional crisis . The People's Progressive Party (PPP) won 18 of the 24 seats in the House of Assembly . This result alarmed the British Government, which was surprised by the strong showing of the PPP . It considered the PPP as too friendly with communist organisations . </P>

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