Today, the legislature is made of two elements: the lieutenant governor (representing the King of Canada), and the unicameral assembly called the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly.

Like the Canadian federal government, Newfoundland and Labrador uses a Westminster-style parliamentary government, in which members are sent to the House of Assembly after general elections.

The leader of the party with the most seats is called upon by the lieutenant governor of Newfoundland and Labrador to form a government and assume the position of Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and Executive Council of Newfoundland and Labrador.

From 1832 to 1934, it had an upper house called the Legislative Council of Newfoundland.

Between 1934 and Newfoundland's entry into Canadian Confederation in 1949, Newfoundland was under Commission of Government, and the General Assembly was suspended.