The first general election for the Legislative Assembly was held in August and September, 1867, and returned a majority for the Quebec Conservative Party led by Premier Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau.

The Chauveau government then appointed the first members to the Legislative Council in November, 1867, who were sworn into their positions in December, 1867.

[4] The Legislative Assembly was to last for four years, subject to being dissolved earlier by the Lieutenant Governor.

[6] Each Legislative Councillor was appointed to represent one of the twenty-four divisions which had formerly been used in the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada[6][7] 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.

Only male British subjects (by birth or naturalisation), aged 21 and older, were eligible to vote, and only if they met a property qualification.

[15] Those requirements were: The provisions of the British North America Act, 1867 did not explicitly bar women from being called to the Senate of Canada.

However, until the Persons Case in 1929, it was assumed that women could not be called to the Senate, and thus were also barred from the Legislative Council.

The 1867 elections returned a majority in the Legislative Assembly for the Conservative Party, led by Premier Chauveau.

Fifteen of the individuals appointed had previously been involved in the government of the Province of Canada, sitting in either the Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council: Beaubien, Proulx, Dostaler, Le Boutillier, Bryson, Thibaudeau, Panet, Boucher de Boucherville, Archambeault, Prud'homme, Armstrong, Ross, Gingras, Ferrier and Hale.

Nine of the individuals had been involved in municipal politics: Beaudry, Rodier, and Starnes had all been mayors of Montreal (and Beaudry would continue to be); Wood, Bryson, Lemaire, Archambeault, McGreevy, and Ferrier were all involved in other municipalities.

Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière gradually emerged as the leader of the Liberals.