Legislative Council of Quebec

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Legislative Council Hall

The Legislative Council of Québec ( French Conseil législatif du Québec ) was the upper house of the bicameral parliament of the Canadian province of Québec . It existed from 1867 to 1968 and consisted of 24 appointed members.

history

The council members were appointed for life until 1963, after which there was an age limit of 75 years. The appointment was made by the lieutenant governor on the advice of the prime minister of the province. Each council member nominally represented a part of Québec, called a division , which corresponded to the division of the Senate divisions .

The Legislative Council had the right to issue new bills bring, except in financial matters. In addition, he was able to change or reject bills passed by the legislative assembly (lower house). The council chairman ( orateur ) was automatically a member of the provincial government, other council members could also belong to the government or even become prime ministers. The two Prime Ministers Charles-Eugène Boucher de Boucherville and John Jones Ross were members of the Legislative Council.

There were first attempts to abolish the unelected upper house at the end of the 19th century. However, this only succeeded in 1968 during the reign of Jean-Jacques Bertrand ( Union nationale ). The Legislative Council was dissolved and the Legislative Assembly was renamed the National Assembly of Québec . Since then, Québec has had a unicameral parliament . It was the last Canadian province to abolish the House of Lords.

The large room in the Québec Parliament Building, where the Legislative Council met, is known as the Salon rouge because of the dominant red color . Today it is used for committee meetings and for important state events that require an impressive hall. These include, for example, the admission celebrations to the Ordre national du Québec .

Council presidents (orateurs)

literature

  • Edmond Orban: La fin du bicaméralisme au Québec . In: Revue canadienne de science politique . tape 2 , no. 3 , September 1969, p. 312-326 .

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