The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. It sits in the state capital, Sydney. Although it is possible for legislation to be first introduced in the Council, most bills receive their first hearing in the Legislative Assembly. Motto: Orta Recens Quam Pura Nites (Newly Risen, How Brightly You Shine) Nickname: First State, Premier State Other Australian states and territories Capital Sydney Government Governor Premier Const. ... The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. ... Sydney Harbour looking south from the vicinity of the Sydney Harbour Bridge towards the CBD skyline; the Opera House is visible in the background on the left. ...

The Council has 42 members, elected by proportional representation, as with the equivalent federal chamber, the Australian Senate. Each member serves an eight-year term, with half the Council coming up for election every four years. Proportional representation (PR) is any election system which ensures a proportionally representative result of a democratic election, x% of votes should be represented by x% in the democratic institutions, parliament or congress. ... Australian Senate chamber Entrance to the Senate The Australian Senate is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia. ...

The Legislative Council was established in 1824 as the first legislature in Australia - a five-member advisory council. It grew to seven members in 1825, and between ten and fifteen in 1829. In 1836, it was radically reformed, with the number of members increased to 54, with two-thirds of them being elected. The Council presided over the drafting of a new state constitution in 1853, which three years later saw a major change in its role - the creation of a bicameral parliament, with most legislative power being granted to a fully-elected Legislative Assembly, and a Council that would act as a house of review, entirely appointed by the Governor. 1824 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1825 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1829 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1836 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1853 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

In 1925, 1926 and 1929, Premier Jack Lang made attempts at abolishing the Legislative Council, but all were subsequently unsuccessful. The debate did, however, result in another round of reforms, and in 1933, the law was changed so that a quarter of the Legislative Council was elected every three years by the Legislative Assembly and the remnant of the Legislative Council, rather than appointed by the Governor. It was not until 1978 that the Council was to become directly elected, with the number of members being slashed drastically to 45, which was then decreased again to 42 in 1991. 1925 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1926 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1929 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Jack Lang in full oratorical flight in the 1930s. ... 1933 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1978 was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... 1991 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

As with the federal parliament and Australian other states and territories, voting in the Council is compulsory for all those over the age of 18. Elections are held every four years on the fourth Saturday in March, exceptional circumstances notwithstanding, as the result of a 1995 referendum. 1995 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Parliaments of the Australian states and territories
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council, 2003-2007

The Parliaments of the Australian states and territories are legislative bodies within the federal framework of the Commonwealth of Australia. ... This is a list of members of the New South Wales Legislative Council: Categories: Lists of members of parliament ...

Current distribution of seats