The Constitution (Amendment No. 5) Act, 1927 increased the maximum size of the Executive Council from seven to twelve. Thereafter, since twelve was the maximum total number of Ministers, there was no point in a TD being an extern minister rather than a member of the Executive Council. The amendment was enacted just before the June 1927 general election, and the subsequent Executive Council included the portfolios previously assigned to extern ministers. Although there was still the possibility of a senator or non-legislator being appointed extern minister, senators objected that Amendment No. 5 made a senator minister less likely. The Constitution (Amendment No. 15) Act, 1929 allowed a senator to be a member of the Executive Council.