Page 130 - Journeys Through Society-7
P. 130
one house called the Legislative Assembly. A few number of Vidhan Sabha members cannot be more
states in India have two Houses of legislature, namely, than 500 or less than 60, though there might be some
Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) and Legislative exceptions. The biggest state of India, Uttar Pradesh
Council (Vidhan Parishad). Six states of India have has 403 members in its Assembly. States such as
bicameral legislatures. They are Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Mizoram and Goa have less than 60 members
Telangana, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar in their Legislative Assembly. Each Vidhan Sabha is
Pradesh. The Legislative Council is also known as the formed for a five year term.
Upper House, while the Legislative Assembly is the
Lower House of the state legislature.
The Governor, the Chief Minister, and the Council of
Ministers are an integral part of the state legislature.
State legislatures, apart from exercising the usual
power of financial control, use all normal
parliamentary devices such as questions, discussions,
debates, adjournments, no-confidence motions and
resolutions to keep a watch over the day-to-day work
of the executive.
A debate in the Legislative Assembly
Legislative Council
The Legislative Council is the upper house of the state
legislature. It is also known as Vidhan Parishad. The
Parliament of India has the power to create or abolish
the Legislative Council of a state on the basis of
resolutions adopted by a special majority in the
Assemblies. All the members of the Legislative Council
Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh
(MLCs) are either elected by certain restricted
electorates or nominated by the Governor.
Let us now try to understand the functioning of the
Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council. While an MLA represents their constituency and
works for the development of their area, an MLC is
chosen from among experts and professionals from
Wow Fact
different walks of life.
The first woman Governor of Independence The total number of members in the Vidhan Parishad
India was Smt. Sarojini Naidu. She was
of a state should not exceed one-third of the total
appointed as Governor of Uttar Pradesh in
number of members of the Vidhan Sabha but this
1947.
number should not be less than 40. The Vidhan
Parishad is a permanent house. It is never dissolved.
Legislative Assembly The tenure of its members is six years. One-third of its
Every Indian State has a Legislative Assembly, members retire after every two years. The presiding
popularly known as the Vidhan Sabha. This assembly officer of the Legislative Council is known as the
represents the power of the common people. The Chairman.
members of a Legislative Assembly (MLAs) are directly
elected by the people of the state. An MLA is an AI Fact Technology Literacy
elected representative of the constituency from
AI has a range of uses in government. It can be used to
where they contested the election. They are elected,
further public policy objectives as well as assist the
directly through adult suffrage by the voters. The public to interact with the government.
123
