Legislative Power
The legislative power is exercised at the National Assembly. Laws are passed or amended during public parliamentary sessions.
National Assembly
The National Assembly is composed of 125 members elected by the population in each of Québec’s electoral divisions. It is the place where Québec’s elected representatives debate questions of public interest and exercise their roles as legislators and overseers.
The Assembly is the cornerstone of Québec’s democracy and a fundamental institution of the State. Its Members sit in the Parliament Building, which is located in Québec’s capital, Québec City. The National Assembly forms with the Lieutenant Governor the Parliament of Québec. The Lieutenant Governor, appointed by the Federal Government, is the Queen's representative in each of the Canadian Provinces. The Lieutenant Governor only assents to Acts. He does not participate in debates.
Parliament
Within the state, the Assembly is separate from both the Parliament and the Government. The Parliament examines proposed legislation submitted to it in the form of bills by the Government and either accepts or rejects them. Parliament also oversees the Government's application of laws and supervises all government activities (legislative power).
The business, discussions and debates of the Assembly and the parliamentary committees are known collectively as parliamentary proceedings. Parliamentary procedure determines the rules that govern the National Assembly, its Members and the Government’s interaction with the Assembly.
Québec's parliamentary system is based on the British model. Established in 1791, the Québec Parliament is one of the oldest in the world, aside from the British Parliament. It was established just after the US Congress but at the same time as the French National Assembly.
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