It was established in September 1960 when 17 out of the 33 Civic Action League (French: Ligue d'Action Civique or LAC) Councillors, led by Jean Drapeau, crossed the floor to create a new party.
The Civic Party won two thirds of the City Council's seats as well as the office of Mayor in 1960 and remained in power until 1986.
During the 1970s, Montreal was a virtual one-party state, with the Civic Party facing only token opposition in City Hall.
The 1986 municipal elections saw the Civic Party swept from power in a massive RCM landslide.
Drapeau's replacement as leader, Claude Dupras, was heavily defeated in the mayoral race by Doré.