legislative council

noun

variants often Legislative Council

1

: a permanent committee chosen from both houses that meets between sessions of a state legislature to study state problems and plan a legislative program

2

: a unicameral legislature (as in a British colony)

3

: the upper house of a British bicameral legislature

Examples of legislative council in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Dillon, 78, is facing Eli Sabin, a recent Yale Law School graduate, and Justin Farmer, a former member of the Hamden legislative council who later moved to New Haven. — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026

At a meeting Monday of the legislative council's Rules Subcommittee, several parents complained about lengthy processing times for payments. — Arkansas Online, 19 June 2026

North Dakota adopted a bill last year requiring a legislative council to study the feasibility of using nonproductive wells to generate geothermal power. — Maria Gallucci, Wired News, 16 May 2026

In March, Gujarat became the second state to pass a UCC, and Maharashtra’s legislative council is considering a similar change. — Kanika Gupta, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1787, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for legislative council

• counsel

Legal Definition

legislative council

noun

often capitalized L&C

: a permanent committee chosen from both houses that meets between sessions of a state legislature to study problems and plan a legislative program