AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION. 231 
mons the Dominion Parliament has power to legislate on the 
following subjects: — 
The distribution of seats. 
the qualifications and disqualifications of members, 
the voters at elections, 
the oaths to be taken by voters, 
returning officers, their powers and duties, 
proceedings at elections’, 
periods during which elections may be continued, 
trial of controverted elections? 
vacating of seats of members, 
execution of new writs in case of seats vacated otherwise 
than by dissolution? 
The number of members may be increased every decen- 
nial census subject to the conditions specified in section 51. 
Parliament may also make provision for the absence of 
the Speaker of the House of Commons*, 
The Legislative Assembly. The provincial Legislatures The Pro- 
possess the same powers for altering the constitution of the Fain 
Assembly that they have for altering the constitution of the House. 
Legislative Council, except that where the Legislative 
Assembly is the only House it cannot be abolished. It is 
true that there is no express provision in the Act against the 
abolition of a provincial Assembly, but in such a case it 
must be remembered not only that such an abolition would 
be inconsistent with the provisions of the Act, but that the 
power of a province to affect its constitution is a power to 
« amend” not to “abolish.” The Union Act implies a Legis- 
lature of some kind in each province, 
Privileges. The Dominion Parliament has power from Privileges 
time to time to define by Act the privileges, immuntiies and of Parlia- 
powers to be enjoyed by the Senate and House of Commons, 
and by the members thereof respectively, but the privileges 
i As to punishment of bribery at elections, see Doyle v. Belle, 11 Ont. 
App. Rep. 32. 2% See ante, p. 137. 3B, N. A. Act, ib. 8. 41, 4 Ib. 8. 47.