The Representative Assembly replaced the unelected advisory council.

It had initially 42 members,[1] and the 1975 elections with universal suffrage allowed Melanesians to participate for the first time.

[2] The first meeting of the assembly took place in July 1976.

[3] The British and the French resident commissioners had override veto power over assembly decisions.

New Hebrides became an internally self-governing in January 1978.