Trinidad and Tobago Independence Act 1962 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Act to make provision for, and in connection with, the attainment by Trinidad and Tobago of fully responsible status within the Commonwealth. |
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| Citation | 10 & 11 Eliz. 2. c. 54 |
| Introduced by | Reginald Maudling, Secretary of State for the Colonies (Commons) |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 1 August 1962 |
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Status: Current legislation
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| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
The Trinidad and Tobago Independence Act 1962 was a very important law passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. This law officially gave Trinidad and Tobago its independence, making it a self-governing country. This big step happened on August 31, 1962.
Thanks to this Act, Trinidad and Tobago became an independent nation in the West Indies. It was no longer ruled by the United Kingdom. After gaining independence, Trinidad and Tobago joined the Commonwealth of Nations, a group of countries that used to be part of the British Empire.
Contents
How the Law Was Made
The idea for this law started as a bill called the Trinidad and Tobago Independence Bill. It was first shown in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom on July 4, 1962. Reginald Maudling, who was in charge of colonies, presented it.
The House of Commons is like one of the main groups of lawmakers in the UK. They discussed the bill and passed it on July 6, 1962, without making any changes.
Moving to the House of Lords
After passing the House of Commons, the bill went to the House of Lords on July 9, 1962. This is another important group of lawmakers. George Petty-Fitzmaurice, 8th Marquess of Lansdowne presented it there on July 16, 1962.
The House of Lords also passed the bill on July 26, 1962, without any changes. This meant both main parts of the UK Parliament agreed on the law.
Royal Approval
Finally, the bill needed to get royal assent. This means the Queen had to officially approve it. Queen Elizabeth II gave her royal assent on August 1, 1962. Once she approved it, the bill officially became the Trinidad and Tobago Independence Act 1962.
What the Act Included
This important law had several key parts:
- Section 1 - This part said that the United Kingdom was giving up its control over Trinidad and Tobago. It meant Trinidad and Tobago would now be in charge of itself.
- Section 2 - This section talked about what it meant for people to be citizens of Trinidad and Tobago and how it affected their British nationality. This part of the law was later changed by another law in 1981.
- First Schedule - This part gave the power to make laws to the new government of Trinidad and Tobago. It meant they could create their own rules and regulations for their country.
See also
- History of Trinidad and Tobago
- List of Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, 1960–79
