In the British constitutional theory, a Legislative council is the second stage of a government directed by a General governor, a Gouverneur or a Lieutenant-governor, lower than the Executive council and equal or higher than a legislative assembled . Although the legislative council must in theory operate as a legislature of a territory controlled (not necessarily a colony) with members elected, named, or both mixed, the separate development of the governments in the British Empire and the the Commonwealth saw the councils evolving/moving and taking several different forms.

See too

• Room of Parliament

• Legislative council of Low-Canada