Final answer:
Burgesses were elected by the settlers to the General Assembly. Colonial assemblies expanded their power and influence during the eighteenth century, developing a system of direct representation for localities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Burgesses in the General Assembly were elected by the settlers. Initially, the House of Burgesses met for the first time on July 30, 1619, in Jamestown, and it represented the first group of elected representatives in the New World. As the colony of Virginia expanded, the House of Burgesses evolved, with two representatives being elected for each settlement, and later for each county, as well as representatives for towns and the College of William and Mary. By the mid-17th century, the House of Burgesses became the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly, with the Governor's Council comprising the upper house.
Throughout the eighteenth century, colonial assemblies such as the Virginia General Assembly expanded their power and influence. These assemblies controlled the budget, initiated legislation, protected members from arrest during sessions, and had the right to petition the monarchy. The concept of direct representation, where assembly members represented the localities that elected them, was practiced in these assemblies in contrast to the British system of virtual representation.