DCHP-1 Online

legislative council

• 1 Hist. in colonial times, a body of persons, usually appointed by the governor to act as his advisors, first acting as a unicameral legislature and later as the upper house of a bicameral body, the lower house being an elective assembly.

  See also: Upper House (def. 1a)  

  • 1789  In February 1777 the Legislative Council convened for the purpose of framing such laws as should secure the property of the subject.
  • 1832  The executive council also constitutes the legislative council, and forms some branch in the constitution of the province as the House of Lords in England. . . . he is assisted by an executive council of twelve, whenever he thinks proper to call from those gentlemen for their advice and opinion.
  • 1863  If the Conservative party wish to insure their success at the approaching Legislative Council Election, let them beware of allowing to their opponents such opportunities as we have here alluded to.
  • 1963  A clear structure of government, modelled exactly . . . On the British Constitution in church and state, was provided in governor, executive council, legislative council, and representative assembly to correspond with King, Privy Council, Lords, and Commons.

• 2 in Quebec, the upper house of the bicameral legislature, the 24 members of which are appointed for life by the government in power.

  See also: L.C.  legislative assembly  Upper House (def. 1b)  

  • 1963  The Quebec Liberal Federation's annual convention recommended abolition of Quebec's Legislative Council--only provincial upper house remaining in Canada--and unspecified pay increases for provincial cabinet ministers and members of the Legislative Assembly.
  • 1966  The party platform [Union Nationale] calls for the abolition of Quebec's Legislative Council, the provincial Upper House, without reference to Ottawa or to the British Privy Council for the required constitutional amendments.