The First Legislature of Quebec was summoned in when the new Canadian province of Quebec was created, as part of the new country of Canada. The legislature had two chambers: the elected lower house, the Legislative Assembly , and the appointed upper house, the Legislative Council.
The Chauveau government then appointed the first members to the Legislative Council in November, , who were sworn into their positions in December, The Conservatives had a strong majority in the Legislative Council. The first session of the legislature was called on December 27, The legislature had four annual sessions, until its dissolution on May 27, , triggering the second general election.
The Act provided that the Lieutenant Governor was to be appointed by the Governor General of Canada for a term of five years, subject to dismissal for cause.
The first election was conducted under the electoral laws of the former Province of Canada, which had been continued in force until such time as the Quebec Legislature enacted electoral laws specifically for Quebec. The right to vote in elections to the Legislative Assembly was not universal.
Only male British subjects by birth or naturalisation , aged 21 and older, were eligible to vote, and only if they met a property qualification. For residents of cities and towns, the qualification was being the owner, tenant or occupant of real property assessed at three hundred dollars, or at an assessed yearly value of thirty dollars. For residents of townships and parishes, the requirements were either an assessment of two hundred dollars, or an assessed yearly value of twenty dollars.
