1. Chapter 4 - Part I Constitutional Act -1791

2. I. Introduction:
Liberal ideas began circulating in the colony of Quebec in the 17th & 18th century
Loyalists arrived in the colony and demanded British institutions and a legislative assembly
Goal: To satisfy loyalist demands and maintain the allegiance of the Canadiens
Liberalism
An ideology that promotes freedom, equality, freedom of expression, political freedom, freedom of religion

3. Territorial Change:
The territory of the province was split into two: Upper Canada & Lower Canada
French
English

4. Lower Canada Upper Canada Approximately 160 000 people
French, Catholic majority
French civil & British criminal code
Township System & Seigneurial System
Legislative Assembly (primarily French)
Upper Canada
Approximately people
English, Protestant majority
British civil & criminal code
Township System
Legislative Assembly (primarily English)

5. Political Changes – Parliamentary System:
Britain reorganized the political system of the colony
Modeled after the mother country’s constitutional monarchy, it was the foundation of the parliamentary system in the colony
Constitutional Monarchy
King/Queen’s powers are limited by a constitution
Parliamentarism
A political system - elected or appointed representatives form a parliament to discuss or vote on laws

6. The organization of Lower Canada and Upper Canada
British Government
Sovereign and Cabinet Ministers
Legend
Appointed
Elected
GREAT BRITAIN
Secretary of State for the Colonies
Governor General
Executive Council
Legislative Council
Executive Council
Legislative Council
LOWER CANADA
UPPER CANADA
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly
Electorate
Electorate

7. Roles in the Government:
Governor
Appointed by the British government
Veto power over any bill (power to reject a law)
Can dissolve the legislative assembly
Executive Council
Appointed by the Governor
Advised the Governor
Adopted provisions to implement laws

8. Legislative Council:
Appointed by the Governor
veto power - approved or rejected laws proposed by the assembly
Legislative Assembly:
Elected by the people
Right to vote was reserved for British subjects aged 21 or over who owned property
Introduced and approved laws

9. Shortcomings of the Representative Government:
Governor’s authority - the appointed Governor & legislative council could veto any laws created the assembly had no power
Only certain people were allowed to vote
All members of the government with power (governor & councils) were appointed.

10. Governor’s Authority
The influence of the legislative assembly was limited, since all bills had to be passed through the legislative council and governor for approval
Governor
Veto power over any bill (power to reject a law)
Approved bills receive royal assent and pass into laws
Can dissolve the legislative assembly
Executive Council
Adopts provisions required for a law to be implemented
Legislative Council
Approves or amends a bill
Rejected/Amended bills are returned to the Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly
Elected by the people
Introduced and approved laws

11. III. First Parliamentary Struggles
There were several heated issues in the assembly:
Choosing the language of the speaker
Langue used in the assembly
Prison financing – what should be taxed property or imported goods
The conflictled to the creation of two political parties: Parti Canadien & the British Party