The Combined Court was established by the Dutch authorities at a time when the colonies of Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo were under the control of the Netherlands.
However, Lieutenant Governor of Demerara Hugh Lyle Carmichael abolished the College of Kiezers in 1812, giving its duties to the Financial Representatives.
[1] The Court of Policy was part-appointed and part-elected by the re-established College of Kiezers, whilst the Financial Representatives were elected by the public, although using a severely limited franchise.
Its responsibilities included raising and spending public revenue, and from 1855 onwards, setting the salaries of civil servants.
[2] Following the 1891 constitutional reforms, the Combined Court consisted had 22 members, six of which were the Financial Representatives now elected by the public in the single member constituencies of Demerara, Essequebo North Western, Essequebo South Eastern, Berbice, Georgetown and New Amsterdam,[3] and the remainder were the 16-member Court of Policy, half of which was elected.