No parties or solid groupings would be formed until after the 1890 election, which resulted in frequent changes of the Premier of South Australia.

If for any reason the incumbent Premier lost sufficient support through a successful motion of no confidence at any time on the floor of the house, he would tender his resignation to the Governor of South Australia, which would result in another member deemed to have the support of the House of Assembly being sworn in by the Governor as the next Premier.

Informal groupings began and increased government stability occurred from the 1887 election.

The first six Governors of South Australia oversaw governance from proclamation in 1836 until self-government and an elected bicameral Parliament of South Australia was enacted in the year prior to the inaugural 1857 election.

The pre-1857 unicameral Legislative Council was partially represented from earlier 1851 and 1855 elections.