INTRODUCTION. 
provided that in the case of occupation the occupation has 
lasted for one year. An income of $300 a year, or an annuity 
of $100 a year, if accompanied by residence of one year, 
also gives a vote. A son if resident with his father may be- 
some qualified through his father’s ownership or occupation, 
and a fisherman can be placed on’ the register if he owns 
land, boats, or fishing tackle of the value of $300. Special 
provision is made for giving the franchise to Indians. 
Duration The duration of Parliament was fixed, subject to the power 
of Paxlia- of the Crown to dissolve it at any time, at five years. Previous 
to the Union the average duration of the legislature in the 
old province of Canada had been three and a half years. 
Since the Union there have been five parliaments, the first 
continued practically for five years, the second was dissolved 
within a year, the third had an existence of four years and 
Sve months, the fourth did not quite complete its fourth year, 
whilst the fifth, which met in Feb. 1883. was not dissolved 
intil 1887. 
In the constitution of the Executive the English Constitu- 
tion has been followed. The executive power is vested in the 
Sovereign, who carries on the work of administration through 
a Governor-General, assisted by a body of ministers known as 
the Canadian Privy Council. The Governor-General is ap- 
pointed by the Crown, and the ministers are appointed by the 
Governor-General. But in accordance with the principle of 
“responsible government” the Governor-General is by consti- 
sutional practice required to select as his ministers those 
members whose policy obtains the confidence of the House of 
Commons. The position of a minister is therefore similar to 
that of a member of the Cabinet; but whilst the English 
Cabinet is “unknown to the law,” the Union Act makes 
sxpress provision for the constitution of the Canadian Privy 
Council. 
Governor- In all matters not directly affecting Imperial interests the 
General. ~ _  _ . (lepneral is required to act by the advice of his 
Dominion 
Executive.