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State Legislative Assembly is also known as Vidhan Parishad. India follows a system with two Houses of legislation at the Parliament and State level as well, called Bicameral legislature. At the State level, it is further divided into Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) and Vidhan Parishad (Legislative Council). Additionally, members of the Legislative Assembly are directly elected by the people in the assembly election. Moreover, the Legislative Council is formed or abolished by the Legislative Assembly. Read on to learn more about the State Legislative Council, its functions and the list of States that have a State Legislative Council!
What are the Functions of the Council?
Furthermore, the Functions of the Council or Vidhan Parishad are as follows:
- Make laws for issues and problems.
- The appropriations bill’s passage also does not involve the Legislative Council.
- The Legislative Council’s Chairman and Deputy Chairman hold the same role as the State’s Cabinet Ministers.
However, there are several grounds for criticism of the Council.
- No State has the authority to modify its Constitution to create new members of the legislative council, according to the Legislative Body of India.
Three main authorities are given to the Legislative Council:
- Legislative control
- Budgetary control
- Executive control
Therefore, with few powers, the State Legislature’s Council is a comparatively weak House.
Also Read: What is the Full Form of MLA?
How Many States have a Legislative Council?
Out of 28 states in the Indian territory, there are six states that have their Councils which are the following:
- Andhra Pradesh
- Bihar
- Karnataka
- Maharashtra
- Telangana
- Uttar Pradesh.
Also Read: Ordinance Making Power of President and Governor in India
Difference Between the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council
Furthermore, here is the difference between the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council:
| Legislative Assembly | Legislative Council |
| Lower House | Upper House |
| Direct Elections | Indirect Elections |
| 5 Years Term | 4 Years Term |
| Speaker- Presiding officer of the Legislative Assembly | Chairman- Presiding officer of the Legislative Council |
| Minimum Age- 25 years old | Minimum Age- 25 years old |
Also Read: Why Do We Need Two Houses of Parliament?
Related Blogs
This is everything about the State Legislative Council and how many States have state legislative councils in India. For more content related to the different states of India, visit our Civics and Polity archives.