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Prior to 1893, there were two branches of the legislature— the Legislative Council, representing the property-holders, and the House of Assembly. The Legislative Council, which became elective by an act of 1862, consisted of thirteen members from certain large constituencies, elected by voters who owned freehold or leasehold property to the value of $325. The House of Assembly consisted of thirty members from smaller constituencies, elected practically by manhood suffrage.

Now there is but one house—a Legislative Assembly—the result of the amalgamation of the two former bodies, which took place in 1893. Itconsists of thirty members—fifteen coun- cillors elected by one body of electors, and fifteen assemblymen elected by two sets of electors, one of each being returned by the fifteen districts into which the Island is divided. These sit side by side and have exactly the same powers. The protection supposed to be given to property-holders by the Legislative Council still exists. There is no property quali— fication for either councillors or assemblymen.

The Franchise—For electors of councillors the qualifi- cations are: ”A British subject—twenty-one years of age— owning property, freehold or leasehold, valued at $325, or partly leasehold and freehold of the value of $325. To have been owned and in possession for a period of six months previous to the writ of election.”

The qualifications for electors of assemblymen, in addition to citizenship and full age, are ownership or occupancy of real estate valued at $100, or of the yearly value of $6, for six months before teste of writ; or in the City of Charlottetown and the town of Summerside, the payment of poll and civic tax for the year immediately preceding the election, and a residence for twelve months in the electoral district; or the payment of $1 road tax for the year immediately preceding the teste of the writ, and a residence of twelve months; or on the part of clergymen and overseers, being specially exempt,