The Legislative Council consisted of appointed councillors who voted on bills passed up by the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada.
The legislative council was created by the Constitutional Act.
The council came to be dominated by the Château Clique, members of the province's most powerful families who were generally interested in preserving the status quo.
Following the Act of Union in 1840, the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada was created in 1841.
During much of the existence of the Legislative Council, the Chief Justice served as Speaker and others appointed to the role in absence of the Chief Justice.