TheTerritory of Iowa Legislative Assembly orLegislative Assembly of Iowa Territory was thelegislature ofIowa Territory, which operated between the creation of the territory in 1838 and statehood in 1846.
Like that ofWisconsin Territory (from which Iowa had been split whenWisconsin became a state), the Assembly consisted of anupper house, called the Council (although some historical compilations refer to it as the Senate), led by a President; and alower house, the House of Representatives, led by aSpeaker of the House. The Council had 13 members, the House had 26. The term of members of the Council was changed from four years in 1836 to two years in 1838, and the term of Representatives was changed from two years in 1836 to one year in 1838.[1]
The Assembly held eight regular sessions and twospecial sessions of varying lengths, the first beginning November 12, 1838 and the last ending January 19, 1846. Legislative Assemblies 1 through 3 convened inBurlington and 4 through 8 convened inIowa City.[2]
Throughout the Assembly's duration, members of theDemocratic Party held anabsolute majority of varying extent in both houses.[3]