The Second Michigan Territorial Council was a meeting of the legislative body governing Michigan Territory, known formally as the Legislative Council of the Territory of Michigan. The council met in Detroit in two regular sessions between November 2, 1826, and April 13, 1827, during the term of Lewis Cass as territorial governor.[1]
A February 5, 1825, act of the United States Congress expanded the size of the council from 9 to 13 members. Members were appointed by the president of the United States, with the advice and consent of the Senate, from a list of 26 people chosen in a general election.[2]
The council apportioned the 26 people, and thus the 13 seats,[3]
among the territory's counties in an act on April 13, 1825.[4]
^An Act in addition to an act, entitled "An act to amend the ordinance and acts of Congress for the government of the territory of Michigan," and for other purposes, 4 Stat.80 (1825)
^The wording of the February 5, 1825, act does not explicitly say that the president must choose the 13 members according to the same apportionment as the 26 names he received, but that appears to be what happened, as each district had half as many members as people it nominated.
^An Act to provide for the election of members of the Legislative Council, approved April 13, 1825, State of Michigan 1874, pp. 259–260.
