Legislative Council of Lower Canada
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Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada Conseil législatif du Bas-Canada |
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|---|---|
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 1791 |
| Disbanded | 1838 |
| Preceded by | Council for the Affairs of the Province of Quebec |
| Succeeded by | Legislative Council of the Province of Canada (following the temporary Special Council of Lower Canada) |
The Legislative Council of Lower Canada was the upper house of the bicameral structure of provincial government in Lower Canada until 1838. The upper house consisted of appointed councillors who voted on bills passed up by the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada. The legislative council was created by the Constitutional Act. Many of the members first called in the Council in 1792 had served as councillors in the Council for the Affairs of the Province of Quebec.
The council came to be dominated by the Château Clique, members of the province's most powerful families who were generally interested in preserving the status quo. Both the upper and lower houses were dissolved on March 27, 1838 following the Lower Canada Rebellion and Lower Canada was administered by an appointed Special Council.
Following the Act of Union in 1840, the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada was created in 1841.
During much of the existene of the Legislative Council, the Chief Justice served as Speaker and others appointed to the role in absence of the Chief Justice.
After the Rebellion, the Speaker was a member of the Special Council of Lower Canada:
Unless otherwise noted, the member died in office.
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