List of Colorado legislatures

This is a list of the legislatures of the U.S. state of Colorado. The Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Colorado met from the creation of the territory in 1861 until statehood on August 1, 1876. The General Assembly of the State of Colorado has convened many times since statehood.

A map showing the location of the U.S. State of Colorado.
The location of the State of Colorado in the United States of America.

Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Colorado

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The Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Colorado did not number its legislatures; rather, it numbered its sessions, which occurred occasionally from 1861 to 1876.

Session Location(s) Session began Session ended House journal link Territorial Council journal link
First Regular Session Denver September 9, 1861 (1861-09-09) November 7, 1861 (1861-11-07) [1] [2]
Second Session Colorado City
Denver
July 7, 1862 (1862-07-07) August 15, 1862 (1862-08-15) [3] [4]
Third Session Golden City
Denver
February 1, 1864 (1864-02-01) March 11, 1864 (1864-03-11) [5] [6]
Fourth Session Golden City January 2, 1865 (1865-01-02) February 10, 1865 (1865-02-10) [7] [8]
Fifth Session Golden City
Denver
January 1, 1866 (1866-01-01) February 9, 1866 (1866-02-09) [9] [10]
Sixth Session Golden City December 3, 1866 (1866-12-03) January 11, 1867 (1867-01-11) [11] [12]
Seventh Session Golden City
Denver
December 2, 1867 (1867-12-02) January 10, 1868 (1868-01-10) [13] [14]
Eighth Session Denver January 3, 1870 (1870-01-03) February 11, 1870 (1870-02-11) [15] [16]
Ninth Session Denver January 1, 1872 (1872-01-01) February 9, 1872 (1872-02-09) [17] [18]
Tenth Session Denver January 5, 1874 (1874-01-05) February 13, 1874 (1874-02-13) (not available) [19]
Eleventh Session Denver January 3, 1876 (1876-01-03) February 11, 1876 (1876-02-11) [20] [21]

1865 Territorial Legislature

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For a brief time in 1865, Colorado had an approved state constitution, and selected a legislature and other elected officials. The legislature briefly convened, believing that their statehood had been approved. However, Andrew Johnson vetoed the corresponding enabling act, and the body that met as the state legislature was disbanded. This legislature met from December 12 through December 19, 1865.[1]

General Assembly of the State of Colorado

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The state legislature has met in Denver, Colorado since its founding.[citation needed] "The first legislative session met from November 1, 1876, through March 20, 1877, and the succeeding sessions met every two years in the odd numbered years: 1879, 1881, 1883, etc., until 1950."[2]

"Colorado general elections are held on the first Tuesday, following the first Monday in November in every even-numbered year, with the exception of the first election in October 1876. Since 1876, representatives have been elected every two years and senators have been elected every four years on a staggered basis."[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ http://www.leg.state.co.us/lcs/leghist.nsf/DocView.xsp?documentId=E69434AE554CE64A872578E2005D2FAB&action=openDocument [bare URL]
  2. ^ a b c d e f Legislative Council Staff (2022), "Presidents and Speakers of the Colorado General Assembly: A Biographical Portrait from 1876", leg.colorado.gov
  3. ^ a b "Session Laws: Colorado". HeinOnline. New York: William S. Hein & Co., Inc. Retrieved March 23, 2019. (subscription required)
  4. ^ "Colorado: State Government". Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming and Arizona Gazetteer and Business Directory. Chicago: Polk & Co. and A.C. Danser. 1884 – via HathiTrust.
  5. ^ "Colorado: Legislative Session", Appleton's Annual Cyclopaedia and Register of Important Events...1899 – via HathiTrust
  6. ^ "Colorado General Assembly". Ballotpedia.org. Retrieved March 23, 2019.

Further reading

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38°59′50″N 105°32′52″W / 38.9972°N 105.5478°W / 38.9972; -105.5478 (State of Colorado)