State Legislature
1. What State Legislature Is (Part VI, Art 168–212)
State Legislature = legislative organ of State under Part VI, analogous to Parliament at Union. Structure (Art 168):
- Governor + Legislature consisting of:
- Unicameral States: Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) only (most States).
- Bicameral States: Legislative Assembly (Lower) + Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad, Upper) — only 6 States have Council: AP, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, UP (after J&K reorg).
2. Powers and Functions
- Legislative: makes laws on State List (List II, 7th Schedule) and Concurrent List (with Centre precedence), Money Bills only in Assembly (Art
198). - Financial: controls Consolidated Fund of State, passes budget.
- Executive control: Council of Ministers responsible to Assembly (Art
164), no-confidence. - Electoral: elects President (MLAs), Rajya Sabha members.
3. Duration and Sessions
- Assembly: 5-year term (Art
172), can be dissolved early, or extended 1 year during national emergency. - Council: permanent house (like Rajya Sabha), 1/3 retires every 2 years, term 6 years per member; can be abolished/created by Parliament via Art
169(needs Assembly resolution + Parliament law, not Art368).
4. Governor's Role with Legislature
Summons, prorogues, dissolves Assembly (Art 174), assents to Bills (Art 200 — can assent, withhold, reserve for President, or return once).
5. Worked Comparison
Union: President + Parliament (Lok Sabha + Rajya Sabha)
State: Governor + Legislature (Assembly + (Council if exists))
Money Bill: Parliament — only Lok Sabha; State — only Assembly
Council is weaker than Rajya Sabha (can only delay).
6. Exam Points
- Define State Legislature Art
168— Governor + Assembly + (Council) — 5 marks, very frequent. - Distinguish unicameral vs bicameral, list 6 States with Council — 5 marks, very frequent (often asked "which States have Council?").
- Powers on State and Concurrent Lists — 5 marks, frequent.
- Duration (Assembly 5 yrs, Council permanent) and Art
169abolition — 5 marks, frequent.