State Legislature : Organization, Powers and functions

<2/”>a >Articles 168 to 212 in Part VI of the Constitution deal with the organisation, composition, duration, officers, procedures, privileges, powers and so on of the State Legislature.In most of the States, the Legislature consists of the Governor and the Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha). This means that these State have unicameral Legislature. In a Six States( Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.), there are two Houses of the Legislature namely, Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) and Legislative council (Vidhan Parishad) besides the Governor.Where there are two Houses, the Legislature, is known as bicameral.Five States have the bicameral, legislature. The Legislative Assembly is known as lower House or popular House. The Legislative Council is known as upper House.

There is a Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) in every State. It represents the people of State. The members of Vidhan Sabha are directly elected by people on the basis of universal Adult Franchise. They are directly elected by all adult citizens registered as voters in the State. All men and Women who are 18 years of age and above are eligible to be included in the voters’ List.

There are certain qualifications prescribed by the Constitution for being elected as an M. L. A. The candidate must:

  • be a citizen of India;
  • have attained the age of 25 years;
  • have his/her name in the voters’ list;
  • not hold any Office of Profit; and
  • not be a government servant.

Subject to the provisions of ARTICLE 333, the Legislative Assembly of each State shall consist of not more than five hundred, and not less than sixty, members chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the State.

The Legislative council or Vidhan Parishad is partly elected and partly nominated. Most of the members are indirectly elected in accordance with the principle of Proportional Representation by means of single transferable vote system. Different categories of members represent different interests. The composition of the Legislative Council is as follows:

i. One-third members of the Council are elected by the members of the Vidhan Sabha.
ii. One-third of the members of the Vidhan Parishad are elected by the electorates consisting of members of Municipalities, District Boards and other local bodies in the State;
iii. One-twelfth members are elected by the electorate consisting of graduates in the State with a standing of three years;
iv. One-twelfth members are elected by the electorate consisting of teachers of educatioal institutions within the State not lower in standard than a secondary school who have teaching experience of at least three years;
v. The remaining, i.e. about one-sixth members are nominated by the Governor from amongst the persons having special knowledge in the sphere of literature, science, arts, co-operative movement and social service.

The State Legislature is empowered to make laws on State List and Concurrent List. The Parliament and the Legislative Assemblies have the right to make the laws on the subjects mentioned in the Concurrent List. But in case of contradiction between the Union and State law on the subject the law made by the Parliament shall prevail.

State legislature has exclusive powers over subjects enumerated in List II of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution and concurrent powers over those enumerated in List III. Financial powers of legislature include authorisation of all expenditure, Taxation and borrowing by the State Government. Legislative assembly alone has power to originate Money bills. Legislative council can make only recommendations in respect of changes it considers necessary within a period of fourteen days of the receipt of money bills from Assembly. Assembly can accept or reject these recommendations.

State legislatures, apart from exercising the usual power of financial control, use all normal parliamentary devices like questions, discussions, debates, adjournments and no-confidence motions and resolutions to keep a watch over day-to-day work of the executive. They also have their committees on estimates and public accounts to ensure that grants sanctioned by legislature are properly utilised.,

The legislative branch of the government of a state is responsible for making laws. It is made up of two houses: the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council. The Legislative Assembly is the lower house, and the Legislative Council is the upper house.

The Speaker is the presiding officer of the Legislative Assembly. The Deputy Speaker is the Speaker’s deputy. The Leader of the House is the leader of the party or coalition that has the most seats in the Legislative Assembly. The Leader of the Opposition is the leader of the largest party or coalition that is not in government.

Committees are groups of members of the Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council that are appointed to study specific issues and make recommendations to the full house. There are many different types of committees, including Standing Committees, select committees, and joint committees.

Sessions are periods of time when the Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council meets to conduct business. The length of a session varies from state to state.

The legislative process is the process by which laws are made. It begins with the introduction of a bill by a member of the Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council. The bill is then referred to a committee, which studies it and makes recommendations. The bill is then debated by the full house and voted on. If the bill is passed, it is sent to the other house, where it goes through the same process. If both houses pass the bill, it is sent to the governor for signature. If the governor signs the bill, it becomes law. If the governor vetoes the bill, it can be overridden by a two-thirds vote of both houses.

The powers of the state legislature are broad and include the power to make laws, the power to levy taxes, the power to borrow money, and the power to create and maintain state government. The functions of the state legislature include passing laws, overseeing the executive branch, and representing the interests of the people.

The state legislature is an important part of the government of a state. It is responsible for making laws that affect the lives of all citizens. The legislature also plays a role in overseeing the executive branch and representing the interests of the people.

Here are some additional details about the subtopics:

  • Legislative Assembly: The Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the state legislature. It is made up of elected representatives from each electoral district in the state. The number of seats in the Legislative Assembly varies from state to state.
  • Legislative Council: The Legislative Council is the upper house of the state legislature. It is made up of elected representatives and members who are nominated by the governor. The number of seats in the Legislative Council varies from state to state.
  • Speaker: The Speaker is the presiding officer of the Legislative Assembly. The Speaker is elected by the members of the Legislative Assembly. The Speaker is responsible for maintaining order in the house and ensuring that the rules of the house are followed.
  • Deputy Speaker: The Deputy Speaker is the Speaker’s deputy. The Deputy Speaker is elected by the members of the Legislative Assembly. The Deputy Speaker acts as the Speaker in the Speaker’s absence.
  • Leader of the House: The Leader of the House is the leader of the party or coalition that has the most seats in the Legislative Assembly. The Leader of the House is responsible for setting the agenda for the house and leading the debate on bills.
  • Leader of the Opposition: The Leader of the Opposition is the leader of the largest party or coalition that is not in government. The Leader of the Opposition is responsible for criticizing the government and proposing alternative policies.
  • Committees: Committees are groups of members of the Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council that are appointed to study specific issues and make recommendations to the full house. There are many different types of committees, including standing committees, select committees, and joint committees. Standing committees are permanent committees that are responsible for a specific area of policy. Select committees are temporary committees that are appointed to study a specific issue. Joint committees are committees that are made up of members of both houses of the legislature.
  • Sessions: Sessions are periods of time when the Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council meets to conduct business. The length of a session varies from state to state. The regular session of the legislature is usually held once a year. Special sessions can be called by the governor or by a majority of the members of the legislature.
  • Legislative process: The legislative process is the process by which laws are made. It begins with the introduction of a bill by a member of the Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council. The bill is then referred to a committee, which studies it and makes recommendations. The bill is then debated by the full house and voted on. If the bill is passed, it is sent to the other house, where it goes through the same process. If both houses pass the bill, it is sent to the governor for signature. If the governor signs the bill, it becomes law. If

What is a state legislature?

A state legislature is the legislative body of a state government. It is responsible for making laws, approving the budget, and overseeing the executive branch.

What are the powers of a state legislature?

The powers of a state legislature are typically outlined in the state constitution. These powers may include the power to make laws, the power to levy taxes, the power to borrow money, and the power to create and abolish state agencies.

How is a state legislature organized?

The organization of a state legislature varies from state to state. However, most state legislatures are bicameral, meaning that they are made up of two houses: a lower house and an upper house. The lower house is typically called the House of Representatives or the Assembly, while the upper house is typically called the Senate.

How are members of a state legislature elected?

The method of electing members of a state legislature varies from state to state. However, most states use a system of direct election, in which voters cast their ballots for individual candidates.

What are the qualifications for serving in a state legislature?

The qualifications for serving in a state legislature vary from state to state. However, most states require that members be at least 21 years old, be citizens of the United States, and be residents of the state they represent.

What are the duties of a state legislator?

The duties of a state legislator vary from state to state. However, most legislators are responsible for drafting and voting on legislation, overseeing the executive branch, and representing the interests of their constituents.

What are the challenges of being a state legislator?

The challenges of being a state legislator vary from state to state. However, some common challenges include the long hours, the low pay, and the constant pressure to please constituents.

What are the rewards of being a state legislator?

The rewards of being a state legislator vary from state to state. However, some common rewards include the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of constituents, the sense of accomplishment that comes from passing legislation, and the camaraderie that comes from working with other legislators.

  1. The legislative body of a state is called the:
    (A) State Assembly
    (B) State Council
    (C) State Legislature
    (D) State Parliament

  2. The State Legislature is responsible for making laws for the state.
    (A) True
    (B) False

  3. The State Legislature is made up of elected representatives from the people.
    (A) True
    (B) False

  4. The State Legislature has the power to levy taxes, borrow money, and make laws on matters of public interest.
    (A) True
    (B) False

  5. The State Legislature is headed by the Speaker.
    (A) True
    (B) False

  6. The State Legislature meets in the State Assembly Hall.
    (A) True
    (B) False

  7. The State Legislature has the power to impeach the Governor.
    (A) True
    (B) False

  8. The State Legislature has the power to pass a vote of no confidence on the Council of Ministers.
    (A) True
    (B) False

  9. The State Legislature has the power to create new districts.
    (A) True
    (B) False

  10. The State Legislature has the power to amend the State Constitution.
    (A) True
    (B) False