1st Quebec Legislature
The First Legislature of Quebec was summoned in 1867 when the new Canadian province of Quebec was created, as part of the new country of Canada.
Legislature of Quebec Législature du Québec | |
|---|---|
| First Legislature, 1867 - 1871 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Houses | Legislative Council Legislative Assembly |
Term limits | Four years, subject to earlier dissolution |
| History | |
| Founded | July 1, 1867 |
| Succeeded by | Second Legislature of Quebec, 1871-1875 |
| Leadership | |
Monarch | Victoria |
Lieutenant Governor | Narcisse-Fortunat Belleau |
Premier | Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau, Conservative |
Speaker of the Legislative Council | Charles Boucher de Boucherville, Conservative |
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly | Joseph-Goderic Blanchet, Conservative |
Leader of the Opposition | Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière (from 1869 onwards), Liberal |
| Structure | |
| Seats | Legislative Council: 24 Legislative Assembly: 65 |
Legislative Council political groups | Conservatives 21 Liberals 3 |
Legislative Assembly political groups | Conservatives 51 Liberals 12 Independent 1 Vacant 1 |
| Elections | |
Legislative Council voting system | Life appointments |
Legislative Assembly voting system | Single member constituencies First-past-the-post voting Open ballot system Adult male franchise with property qualification |
| Constitution | |
| British North America Act, 1867 | |
The Legislature had two chambers: the elected lower house, the Legislative Assembly, and the appointed upper house, the Legislative Council. The first general election for the Legislative Assembly was held in August and September, 1867, and returned a majority for the Quebec Conservative Party led by Premier Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau. The Liberal Party of Quebec formed the Official Opposition.
The Chauveau government then appointed the first members to the Legislative Council in November, 1867, who were sworn into their positions in December, 1867. The Conservatives had a strong majority in the Legislative Council.
The first session of the Legislature was called on December 27, 1867. The Legislature had four annual sessions, until its dissolution on May 27, 1871, triggering the second general election.