State Legislature: Structure, Powers and Functions

State Legislature: Structure, Powers and Functions

Structure of State Legislature

The state is the second stratum of the federal structure of the Constitution. The provisions for the governance of all the state is dealt in the Part VI of the Constitution except Jammu & Kashmir because it has separate Constitution for its state government. The articles from 152 to 237 deals thoroughly on the subjects of the state legislature. The state legislature which has only Legislative Assembly as House of People is called as Unicameral. Most of the powers and functions are shared by the state legislature is almost like the same as the Union legislature. In a Bicameral system of legislature, the state legislature consists of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.

The Governor

There shall be a Governor as the Constitutional Head of the State executive, and executive power of the state vested with the Governor and all executive actions of the state has to be taken in the name of the Governor. The Governor of the State shall be appointed by the President. The Governor is appointed for a term of five years or can hold the office during the pleasure of the President or until his successor enters upon his office. The eligibility of appointment of the Governor is that he/she must be the citizen of India, shall not hold any office of the profit and should have completed thirty five years of age. The Governor can be appointed more than once and can hold office for more than one state two states in an exigency or as a transitional arrangement.