Final answer:
The House of Burgesses, established by the Virginia Company in 1619, was the first legislative body in America, signaling the start of representative government in Virginia. It became the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly, with the Governor's Council as the upper house.
Step-by-step explanation:
The English idea of representative government was realized in Virginia with the establishment of the House of Burgesses. In 1619, the Virginia Company inaugurated this legislative assembly that transformed the way Virginia was governed. As the first legislative body in America, it represented a new form of government on the continent, signifying a shift towards democracy and self-governance. Initially, each settlement elected two burgesses, and over time, representation expanded with the colony to include each county and the College of William and Mary. By 1643, the House of Burgesses became the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly, paralleled by the Governor's Council—appointed directly by the Crown—as the upper house. This assembly passed laws that would affect the everyday lives of colonists, from taxation to public welfare regulations.