Which institution served as the model for colonial legislatures and the U.S. Congress?

The correct answer is that Parliament served as the model for colonial legislatures and the U.S. Congress. During the colonial period, many American settlers were influenced by the British system of government, particularly the concept of Parliament, which included both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. This two-house structure inspired the design of the U.S. Congress, which also consists of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The model of Parliament emphasized a legislative body with the power to create laws and represent the interests of the people, key principles that were adopted in the drafting of the U.S. Constitution. Additionally, colonial assemblies mirrored the parliamentary system in their functions, developing an understanding of representative governance that would carry over into the formation of Congress after independence.

Other choices, while related, did not serve as the primary model. The Senate, for instance, is part of the U.S. Congress rather than a separate institution that inspired its creation. The House of Commons had a significant influence but is essentially a component of Parliament. The Continental Congress was a gathering of representatives during the American Revolution, but it was more of a wartime governing body rather than a fully structured legislative model like Parliament.