Chapter 4: Lesson 3
A New Parliamentary system
 1764-1784: __________________along with the
__________________and some __________________
wanted a legislative assembly
 Wanted the __________________to exercise more power
 November 24, 1784 a document was sent to the British
Crown
 “The Humble Petition of Your Majasty’s Ancient and
New Subjects Inhabitants of the Province of Quebec”
 1791 London __________________to the demands and
passed the Constitutional Act
Constitutional Act 1791
 In an effort to satisfy __________________, but also
protect the rights of the __________________.
 The Province of Quebec was divided into two distinct
territories:
 __________________
 __________________
 Each of the new colonies was granted a
__________________________.
THE THIRD CONSTITUTION
The Constitutional Act of 1791
UPPER CANADA
LOWER CANADA
Territory
•Lake Ontario to lake
Superior (present day –
Southern Ontario)
•20 000 English-speaking
Loyalists.
•St. Lawrence valley – north to
Labrador
•160 000 (90% French-speaking)
Laws
British Civil and Criminal
Law
French Civil Law and British
Criminal Law
Form of
Government
Religion
Land
distribution
system
A parliamentary system with Legislative Assembly for both
Upper Canada and Lower Canada
Religious freedom for both Upper Canada and Lower Canada
Township system
Existing Seigneuries kept, new
land would be townships.
Lower Canada
Great
Britain
Political Organization of
Lower Canada 1791 (p. 9)
British Government
Colonial Secretary
Governor
General
Executive Council
Legislative Council
Legislative Assembly
(“The House”)
The Voters
(Population)
Political Institutions in 1791 – due to launch of parliamentary system
Institutions
Functions
Governor General (LC)
Lieutenant Governor (UC)
•Leader of government
•Convene legislative Assembly
at least once a year
•Could dissolve assembly
•Power of veto – submit
directly to King
•Appointed and directed civil
servants
•Leader of military
One person in each
Canada, appointed by the
King of England
Executive Council
•Oversaw application of law
•Government’s budget (civil
service salaries, public works,
etc)
Nine members in each
Canada, appointed for life
by the Governor
Legislative Council
•Propose motions of law to
Legislative assembly
•Veto laws enacted by
Legislative assembly
At least 15 members in each
Canada, appointed for life
by the Governor
•Propose motions of law,
discuss
•Voted on motions proposed
by legislative council
•Voted on taxes needed to run
colony
At least 50 representatives
in each Canada, elected by
the population for a fouryear term.
Legislative Assembly
Number of individuals
The Process of Enacting a Law
1791
Legislative Assembly

Legislative Council

Governor General

Executive Council

Population
Today
Executive Council
(Departmental Ministers)

House of Commons

Senate

Cabinet

Population
 The Elections
 1791 – right to vote had conditions



_________________________________
_________________________________(live in Great Britain or
one of its colonies)
Own __________________________________________
 Gaps in the Parliamentary system of 1791
 __________________________ – Governor was able to veto
any bills
 Members of _____________________and
_____________________has far-reaching powers, but were
not elected.

Were chosen by __________________, and for most part were
__________________.
 The Executive Council, although responsible for the colony’s
budget, were not _____________________________________.
 Britain wanted to give ________________________(avoid
something like the American Revolution)
 Elected Representatives were not dumb, and ordered for more
power.
Workbook Assignment
Please complete Pages 112 - 114