High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! In the United States of America, a state legislature is a generic term referring to the legislative body of any of the country's 50 states. The formal name varies from state to state. In 24 states, the legislature is simply called the "Legislature," or the "State Legislature", while in 19 states, the legislature is called the "General Assembly." In Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the legislature is called the "General Court," while North Dakota and Oregon designate the legislature as the "Legislative Assembly." Every state has a bicameral legislature, meaning that the legislature consists of two separate legislative chambers; Nebraska uses a unicameral, or one-chamber legislature. In all bicameral legislatures, the smaller chamber is called the Senate and is usually referred to as the upper house.