Utah_Territorial_Legislative_Assembly

Utah Territorial Legislative Assembly

Utah Territorial Legislative Assembly

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The Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Utah was the legislative branch of government in Utah Territory, replacing the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret. The Act of Congress creating the territory in 1850 specified that the territorial legislature should consist of a council of 13 members serving 2-year terms, and a 26-member house of representatives elected for 1-year terms. In 1870, the Legislative Assembly changed the term for members being elected to the House that year to 2 years.[1] Thereafter, legislative sessions were held only in even-numbered years.

List of Legislative Assemblies

Annual sessions (1851-1869)

After the first Legislative Assembly, which remained in session much longer in order to establish functional operations of the territorial government, regular annual sessions were scheduled for the second Monday in December and set to run for 40 days. Although the flurry of concluding business at the close of a session caused a few legislatures to adjourn a day or two past 40, beyond the 1st only the 2nd and 10th Legislative Assemblies required a special session (in the case of the 10th, one held in advance of the regular session rather than after). The 16th Legislative Assembly adjusted the start of future sessions to the second Monday in January, so that the legislature elected in 1867 did not begin meeting until 1868.

Biennial sessions (1870-1894)

  • 19th Utah Territorial Legislature: January 10, 1870
  • 20th Utah Territorial Legislature: January 8, 1872
  • 21st Utah Territorial Legislature: January 12, 1874
  • 22nd Utah Territorial Legislature: January 10, 1876
  • 23rd Utah Territorial Legislature: January 14, 1878
  • 24th Utah Territorial Legislature: January 12, 1880
  • 25th Utah Territorial Legislature: January 9, 1882
  • 26th Utah Territorial Legislature: January 14, 1884
  • 27th Utah Territorial Legislature: January 11, 1886
  • 28th Utah Territorial Legislature: January 9, 1888
  • 29th Utah Territorial Legislature: January 13, 1890
  • 30th Utah Territorial Legislature: January 11, 1892
  • 31st Utah Territorial Legislature: January 8, 1894

Territorial apportionment

County map of Utah Territory as of 1856. The white background shows the modern-day State of Utah.

Representation in the Legislative Assembly was apportioned by Governor Brigham Young prior to the initial 1851 election by county.[2] The apportionment was comprehensively revised by the legislature in 1862.[3]

More information County, 1851-1863 ...
More information County, 1851-1856 ...

Beginning in 1888, legislators were elected from geographic districts instead of by county after the Edmunds-Tucker Act nullified previous apportionments and required redistricting of the entire territory.

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "An Act. To provide for the election of the members of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Utah". Deseret News. July 27, 1870. p. 12. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  2. [2]
    "Proclamation". Deseret News. July 12, 1851. p. 5. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  3. [3]
    "An Act Apportioning the Representation of Utah Territory". Deseret News. January 29, 1862. p. 8. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  4. [4]
    "An Act apportioning the Representation of Utah Territory". Deseret News. July 23, 1856. p. 8. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  5. [5]
    "An Act Apportioning to certain counties, Representatives to the Legislative Assembly". Deseret News. February 16, 1859. p. 3. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  6. [6]
    "Resolution Apportioning a Representative to Carson County". Deseret News. February 8, 1855. p. 4. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
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