and with the advice of his Privy Council has power to appoint six members by warrant under his privy seal1. As regards the other members they are elected by bona fide male residents and householders of adult age, within the electoral district, not being aliens or unenfranchised Indians, and who have resided in such electoral district for at least 12 months immediately preceding the issue of the writ for the election".

office.

Term of office. In Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Term of Scotia, Councillors hold office for life, unless they resign or become disqualified.

In Prince Edward's Island a new election takes place for Charlottetown every eighth year, and for other districts every fourth year, from the date of the last election to the Council3.

In the North-West Territories elected members of the Council hold office for two years but are eligible for reelection".

Quorum. The number required to form a quorum of the Quorum. Councils is as follows:

in Quebec, 10 including the Speaker';

in New Brunswick, 8;

in Prince Edward's Island, 6 in addition to the President';

and in the North-West Territories a majority of the

members.

The Speaker or President. In Quebec the Speaker is Speaker. appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor from amongst the members of the Legislative Council.

In New Brunswick and Prince Edward's Island the President of the Council is elected by the Councillors 1o.

1 R. S. C. c. 50, s. 7

2 Ib. s. 20.

3 P. E. I. Rev. Stat. 25 Vic. c. 18, s. 17.

5 B. N. A. A. 1867, s. 78.

7 P. E. I. Rev. Stat. 25 Vic. c. 18, s. 29.

9 B. N. A. A. 1867, s. 77.

4 R. S. C. c. 50, s. 22.

6 N. B. Con. Stat. 1877, c. 4, s. 8.
8 R. S. C. c. 50, s. 23.

10 N. B. Con. Stat. 1877, c. 4, s. 7. P. E. I. Rev. Stat. 25 Vic. c. 18, s. 27.

Privileges.

In Quebec the Speaker has a vote and a casting vote'. In Prince Edward's Island he has only a casting vote. Privileges. Members of the Legislative Council in Quebec enjoy the same privileges as members of the Assembly3. In the other provinces that have Legislative Councils Acts have not as yet been passed to define the privileges of such Councils.

Resignation. A Legislative Councillor may resign his seat by a notice in writing under his hand and seal addressed to the Lieutenant-Governor'.

1 B. N. A. A. 1867, s. 79.

2 P. E. I. Rev. Stat. 25 Vic. c. 18, s. 29.

3 See ante p. 69.

4 B. N. A. Act. 1867, ss. 74, 30. N. B. Con. Stat. 1877, c. 4, s. 5. P. E. I. 25 Vic. c. 18, s. 19.

CHAPTER VII.

METHOD OF LEGISLATION.

THE procedure and practice of the Provincial Legislatures are regulated partly by the provisions of the British North America Acts, partly by provincial statutes, partly by orders and resolutions of each Legislature, and partly by usages which though unwritten are recognized and followed.

The hour of meeting varies in the different provinces: Hour of Meeting. in British Columbia it is 11 o'clock, in Nova Scotia 12 o'clock, and in Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba 3 o'clock. If the business of the House is not concluded at 6 o'clock the Speaker leaves the chair until half-past seven. The House at its rising on Friday as a rule stands adjourned until the following Monday.

Order of Business.

The business in the Provincial Order of

Assemblies is generally as follows:

Every day certain routine business is taken in the following order :

1. Presenting Petitions.

business.

2.

Reading and Receiving Petitions.

3. Presenting Reports by Standing and Select Com

mittees.

4. Motions.

After the above routine business is disposed of, the order of business varies according to the day and the province.

Order of business.

In Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia the following rules prevail.

On one day the order of business is:

Public
Bills.

Introduction.

4. Questions put by Members.

5. Other Notices of Motions.

6. Private Bills.

On the remaining two days in the week the order is :—

1. Questions put by Members.

2. Notices of Motions.

3. Public Bills and Orders.

3. Government Notices of Motions in Quebec.

3. Government Orders in Quebec.

4. Private Bills.

5. Public Bills and Orders.

6. Private Bills, in Ontario.

7.

8.

Government Notices of Motions, in Ontario.
Government Orders, in Ontario.

In Nova Scotia the same order of business is followed from day to day.

Public Bills pass through the same stages as in the Dominion Parliament, except that in some provinces the consent of a second House is not required.

All Bills are introduced upon motion for leave specifying the title of the Bill, or upon motion to appoint a committee to prepare and bring it in: no Bill can be introduced in blank.

Money bills can originate only in the Legislative Assembly and no appropriation can take place unless first recommended by a message from the Lieutenant-Governor.

Every bill requires except on urgent or extraordinary Readings. occasions to be read three times on separate days. After the second reading the House goes into Committee, and all amendments made are reported to the House. After report the Bill is open to debate and amendment before it is ordered for third reading.

Bills.

Private Bills are initiated by way of petition. No petition Private for a private Bill is received as a rule after the first two weeks of a session, and no private Bill can be presented after the first three weeks.

Each Legislature has standing orders, relative to such petitions, prescribing what notice of the application shall be given and what particulars must be stated.

The petition comes before the Committee on Standing Orders, and if such Committee reports favourably, the Bill is introduced on motion for leave. After being read a second time it is referred to a Committee, and the subsequent procedure is similar to that prevailing in the Dominion Parliament.