The elections saw a landslide victory for the Federal Party under Godfrey Huggins, who had been Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia for the past 20 years.
At the election day, the electorate was comprised as follows: The advent of the Federation caused a profound shift in the structure of politics in the Rhodesias.
Opponents of federation formed the Confederate Party, which advocated a system in the Rhodesias akin to apartheid in South Africa.
Dr Alexander Scott in Lusaka and Norman Lacey in the copperbelt constituency of Nkana-Chingola both advocated a liberal racial policy similar to that which the Progressive Party had been intending to offer.
Percy Ibbotson, the specially elected European member representing African interests from Southern Rhodesia, died on 3 April 1955.
Neville Barrett, the Federal Party member for Mrewa (Southern Rhodesia) died on 15 April 1957.
Jasper Savanhu, the specially elected African member for Mashonaland (Southern Rhodesia), had problems with the proposed new constitution in terms of its provisions for voters' qualifications.