What is State Legislature (Legislative and Executive Powers of State Government)?
Historical Background
Key Points
9 points- 1.
Article 168: Constitution of Legislatures in States (Governor + House(s)).
- 2.
Article 169: Abolition or creation of Legislative Councils.
- 3.
Article 170: Composition of the Legislative Assemblies (not more than 500 and not less than 60 members, directly elected).
- 4.
Article 171: Composition of the Legislative Councils (not more than 1/3rd of Assembly strength, indirectly elected/nominated).
- 5.
Legislative powers extend to subjects in the State List and Concurrent List (Article 246).
- 6.
Executive powers of the state government are vested in the Governor and exercised through the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister (Article 163, 164).
- 7.
The Governor has powers to assent to bills, reserve bills for President's consideration, and promulgate ordinances (Article 200, 201, 213).
- 8.
Financial powers include passing the State Budget (Article 202) and imposing taxes.
- 9.
Control over the executive through questions, resolutions, and no-confidence motions.
Visual Insights
State Legislature: Structure, Powers & Key Articles
This mind map illustrates the fundamental components, functions, and constitutional provisions related to State Legislatures in India, crucial for understanding state governance.
State Legislature
- ●Composition (Article 168)
- ●Powers & Functions
- ●Key Constitutional Articles
- ●Recent Challenges/Debates
Legislative Assembly vs. Legislative Council: A Comparative Analysis
This table provides a concise comparison of the two houses of State Legislature, highlighting their key differences in composition, election, and powers, essential for understanding bicameralism at the state level.
| Feature | Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) | Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) |
|---|---|---|
| Composition (Art. 170/171) | Not more than 500, not less than 60 members (directly elected from territorial constituencies). | Not more than 1/3rd of Assembly strength, not less than 40 members (indirectly elected/nominated). |
| Election Method | Directly elected by adult suffrage. | Indirectly elected (1/3rd by local bodies, 1/3rd by Assembly members, 1/12th by graduates, 1/12th by teachers) and nominated (1/6th by Governor). |
| Term | 5 years (can be dissolved earlier). | Permanent body, 1/3rd members retire every 2 years (members serve 6-year terms). |
| Money Bill Powers | Exclusive power to introduce and pass Money Bills. Can override Council's recommendations. | Can only delay Money Bills for 14 days; no power to reject or amend. |
| Ordinary Bill Powers | Can introduce and pass Ordinary Bills. Council can delay for max 4 months (3 months + 1 month). | Can introduce Ordinary Bills (except Money Bills). Can delay Ordinary Bills. |
| Abolition/Creation (Art. 169) | Cannot be abolished or created by a simple resolution. | Can be abolished or created by Parliament if the State Assembly passes a resolution by special majority. |
| States having it (as of Dec 2025) | All states. | Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh (6 states). |
Recent Developments
4 developmentsDebates on the relevance and utility of Legislative Councils in states.
Increasing instances of Governor's role being questioned in legislative and executive matters, especially in states with opposition governments.
Challenges in Centre-State financial relations and resource allocation.
Focus on e-governance and digitization of legislative processes.