The state legislature makes the laws at the state level. The state legislature may be unicameral or bicameral. In states where are two houses, one is known as the legislative council (vidhan parishad) and the other is known as the legislative assembly (vidhan sabha). States like Bihar, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh have bicameral legislatures.

Legislative assembly (Vidhan sabha)

The legislative assembly represents the entire population of the state. It consists of the representatives directly elected by people on the basis of universal adult franchise. These representatives elected by people are known as members of the assembly (MLA�s). These members should not be more than 500 or less than 60 in each legislative assembly. The legislative assembly is a�platform�for MLAs from both the government and opposition parties to meet and debate various issues.

Exceptions

The legislative assemblies of Mizoram, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Goa have less than 60 members. The reason these have less number of MLAs is due to the less population of these states.
Qualifications for becoming an MLA: In order to become a member of the legislative assembly a person-
� Be a citizen of India
� Not be less than 25 years of age
� Not hold any office of profit under the Government of India or state government.
� Be of sound mental health

Term: - The term of the legislative assembly is five years. However, the governor may disclose the assembly before it completes its term.
Officers: - The members of the legislative assembly elect a speaker and a deputy speaker from among them. The speaker and the deputy speaker normally hold office as long as the house remains.
The speaker conducts the proceedings of the assembly. In his absence, it is the deputy speaker who performs the functions of the speaker.

Powers and functions

The legislative assembly of the state represented by the elected MLA�s has mainly two types of functions- legislative and financial.

Legislative powers: - the assembly is empowered to make laws pertaining to the subjects mentioned in the state list and the concurrent list of the constitution.

Financial powers: - The assembly enjoys supreme authority with respect to the passing of state budgets, money bills, permission for levying taxes, and fixing salaries of the members of state legislatures. All money bills are introduced by the assembly.

How does a bill become a law?

A proposal for a law is termed a bill. There are two types of bills- money bills and nonmoney bills. While the money bill can be introduced only in the legislative assembly, the non-money bill can be introduced in either the assembly or the legislative council (if there is one). Once the bill is discussed and approved by the houses it is sent to the governor for his signature. After the governor�s signing the bill becomes law.

Control over the council of ministers: - The assembly exercises control over the state council of ministers. The members of the assembly may ask questions to the ministers. They point out the problems in the administration. They may demand the resignation of any one of the ministers or may pass a �no-confidence motion against the council of ministers and thus ask the entire ministry to resign.

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