Sri Mulam Thirunal Ramavarma, who became maharajah of Travancore in 1886, established it in an order issued on 30 March 1888.
Voting right was limited to persons who paid an annual land revenue of not less than Rs.50, or whose net income was not less than Rs.2000.
University graduates with not less than ten years of standing, and having their residence in the respective Taluk, were also eligible to vote.
In 1932, the Legislative Council of Travancore and Sree Moolam Popular Assembly were replaced with a formal bicameral system consisting of an Upper House, the Travancore Sri Chitra State Council, and a Lower House, the Sree Moolam Assembly.
This bicameral system continued to function until September 1947 when it gave way to a constituent assembly that later led to the merger of Cochin state and its accession to India following independence.