The 6th Dáil met on 11 October 1927 to nominate the president and Executive Council of the Irish Free State for appointment by the Governor-General.

Cosgrave was re-appointed leading a new minority government of Cumann na nGaedheal with the support of the Farmers' Party.

Only three seats separated the two largest parties in the 5th Dáil, Cumann na nGaedheal and Fianna Fáil, and the government was very unstable.

Fianna Fáil entered the Dáil in August, and days later gave its support to motion of no confidence in the Cumann na nGaedheal government proposed by Labour Party leader Thomas Johnson.

The Labour Party had done well on its last outing and was hoping, and was predicted, to win extra seats, in spite of internal divisions.