The Conservative Party of Quebec held office throughout the term of the legislature, but went through a succession of three leaders.

The Liberal Party of Quebec formed the Official Opposition, under the leadership of Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière.

[4] The Legislative Council consisted of twenty-four members, appointed for life by the Government of 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.

[13] 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 were thus also barred from the Legislative Council.

[15] The Conservatives under Premier Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau won a substantial majority in the 1871 election, although with a somewhat reduced seat count.

In spite of their electoral success, the Conservatives began to fracture between an ultramontane Catholic wing and the traditional Parti Bleu supporters, who were more business oriented.

[18] Ouimet was replaced as party leader and premier by Charles Boucher de Boucherville in 1874.

In addition to the political instability associated with the Tanneries scandal, the Second Legislature was also marked by a high number of by-elections.

Amongst those who moved to federal politics was the young Wilfrid Laurier, who had been elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1871 for the riding of Drummond et Arthabaska.

One significant legislative measure passed by the de Boucherville government was electoral reform.

In the 1875 session, the government passed a new election law to replace the old statute and create an electoral framework designed solely for Quebec.

The 1871 election returned a majority in the Legislative Assembly for the Conservative Party, led by Premier Chauveau.

There were three different ministries during the term of the Second Legislature, under Premiers Chauveau (1871-1873), Ouimet (1873-1874), and Boucher de Boucherville (1874-1875).