The foundation stone for the Melaka State Legislative Assembly building was laid on August 31st 1961 by the Governor of Melaka, TYT Tun Haji Abdul Malek bin Yusuf S.M.N., D.M.K. In this Assembly building, legislative and financial bills were introduced, debated and voted upon.

The State Legislative Assembly moved to its new premises in Ayer Keroh as the old premises had proved to be inadequate to house the assembly and the supporting administrative infrastructure.

It was then decided that the building that had housed an important institution of a democratic system of government - The State Assembly - for 40 years, would house a museum to trace the development and practice of parliamentary democracy in independent Malaysia.

It is hoped that the establishment of this museum would give Malaysians and foreign visitors alike a greater insight into the Malaysia's constitutional system of government.

A Speaker, who is elected by the members of the House, chairs the Legislative Assembly. The legislative members are themselves elected by the people during an election held once every five years or after the dissolution of the Assembly. Those eligible to stand for election have to be a Melaka residents and over the age of 21.