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State Legislative Assembly and Council ICSE 9 Civics

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History & CivicsICSE Class 9 · The State Legislatures

Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council: Composition and Powers (ICSE Class 9 Civics)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Most states have a unicameral legislature (Governor and Legislative Assembly); a few are bicameral and also have a Legislative Council. The Assembly is directly elected, has 60 to 500 members and a five-year term; the Council is mostly indirectly elected, permanent and has limited powers. The Assembly is more powerful, especially over Money Bills and the Council of Ministers.

Notice that the Council's members come from five sources, mostly indirectly, and that one-third retire every two years so it is never dissolved.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council: Composition and Powers

1. Unicameral and bicameral. A unicameral legislature has one House (Governor and Legislative Assembly) as in most states; a bicameral one has also a Legislative Council, as in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Parliament can create or abolish a Council if the Assembly passes a resolution by a special majority.

2. Legislative Assembly. Members are directly elected by adult franchise, one from each constituency; the number is 60 to 500 (small states may have fewer by special provision); seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Term: five years unless dissolved earlier by the Governor; Parliament may extend it by one year at a time in a national emergency. Qualifications: Indian citizen, at least 25 years of age, name on the electoral roll, no office of profit, sound mind and not insolvent. The presiding officer is the Speaker.

3. Legislative Council. Size not more than one-third of the Assembly and not less than 40. About one-third elected by local bodies, one-twelfth by graduates, one-twelfth by teachers, about one-third by MLAs, and about one-sixth nominated by the Governor from persons with special knowledge of literature, science, art, the co-operative movement and social service. It is permanent: six-year terms with one-third retiring every two years. Qualification: at least 30 years of age. The presiding officer is the Chairman.

4. Powers of the Assembly. Legislative (State and Concurrent Lists); financial (Money Bills originate only in the Assembly; it passes the budget); control over the executive (the Council of Ministers is responsible to it; questions, motions, no-confidence); electoral (elects the state's Rajya Sabha members and takes part in the election of the President); and a share in some constitutional amendments.

5. Powers of the Council. Revising and advisory: it can delay an ordinary bill for about four months at most; for a Money Bill it can only recommend within 14 days; the ministry is not responsible to it and it has no role in electing the President or Rajya Sabha members.

Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council: Composition and Powers: key facts

Assembly
  • 60 to 500 members
  • Five years
  • Age 25
  • Speaker
  • Direct election
Council
  • Not more than one-third of Assembly
  • At least 40
  • Permanent
  • Six-year terms
  • Age 30
  • Chairman
Council powers
Delay ordinary bill about four months | Money Bill: 14 days
Examples of bicameral
  • Uttar Pradesh
  • Bihar
  • Maharashtra
  • Karnataka

Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council: Composition and Powers in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Two committees

Suppose a school has a student council directly elected by all students, and an advisory group whose members are partly nominated by the principal and partly elected by teachers.

Which state bodies does it resemble?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Directly elected council: Assembly.
  2. Advisory mixed group: Legislative Council.

Answer: Assembly and Council.

Memory hook: Elected power, advisory revision.

Tricks to remember Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council: Composition and Powers

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • 25-30

    Assembly age 25, Council age 30.

    Use it when: Qualifications.

  • 14 days

    Council keeps Money Bill 14 days.

    Use it when: Council limit.

Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council: Composition and Powers: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Unicameral · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level

Explain unicameral and bicameral legislatures with examples. [3]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Unicameral: one House.
  2. Bicameral: two Houses, Assembly and Council.
  3. Examples: most states are unicameral; Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are bicameral.

Answer: Unicameral has one House; bicameral has Assembly and Council, as in Uttar Pradesh.

Example 2: Assembly term · 4 marks · Short answerBoard level

A candidate for the Vidhan Sabha is 24 years old, a citizen on the electoral roll. Is he qualified, and what else must be true of the House he joins? State composition, term and qualifications. [4]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Directly elected members, 60 to 500.
  2. Term five years.
  3. Citizen of India, at least 25 years of age.
  4. Name on the electoral roll, not an office-holder of profit.

Answer: No: the minimum age is 25. The House has 60 to 500 directly elected members, a five-year term and members who are citizens at least 25 on the electoral roll without an office of profit.

Example 3: Council composition · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Describe how members of the Legislative Council are chosen. [4]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. About one-third by local bodies.
  2. One-twelfth by graduates and one-twelfth by teachers.
  3. About one-third by MLAs.
  4. About one-sixth nominated by the Governor.

Answer: Local bodies, graduates, teachers, MLAs and Governor's nominees.

Example 4: Assembly versus Council · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

A Money Bill passed by the Assembly is held by the Council for a month and then the ministry loses a no-confidence vote in the Council. Explain why neither step has the effect it would in the Assembly, on four points. [4]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Directly elected versus indirectly.
  2. Money Bills originate only in the Assembly.
  3. Assembly has the final say on ordinary bills.
  4. The ministry is responsible to the Assembly alone.

Answer: The Council can hold a Money Bill for only 14 days and can only recommend; the ministry is responsible to the Assembly alone, and the Assembly, being directly elected, has the final say on bills.

Example 5: Case: the bill · 6 marks · Case-basedHOTS / competency

Case. A bill passed by the Assembly is rejected by the Council. (i) Can the Assembly pass it again? [1] (ii) What happens if the Council again rejects it? [2] (iii) What if it were a Money Bill? [2] (iv) Which House has the final say? [1]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (i) Yes.
  2. (ii) After a further period it is deemed passed by the Assembly's will.
  3. (iii) The Council can only recommend, within 14 days, and the Assembly may accept or reject.
  4. (iv) The Assembly.

Answer: (i) Yes (ii) Deemed passed (iii) Only recommend within 14 days (iv) Assembly.

Where students lose marks in Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council: Composition and Powers

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Giving the Council power over Money Bills

    Powers overstated.

    Do this: Council can only recommend.

    Usually costs: 2 marks.

  • Mistake: Mixing ages 25 and 30

    Wrong ages.

    Do this: Assembly 25; Council 30.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Saying all states are bicameral

    Overgeneralised.

    Do this: A few states only.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

  • Make a comparison table for Assembly and Council.
  • State the number of years and members.
  • Name the presiding officers.
  • Give reasons for the Assembly's greater power.

Practice questions on Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council: Composition and Powers

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

    The presiding officer of the Legislative Council is the:
    (a) Speaker
    (b) Chairman
    (c) Governor
    (d) Chief Minister

    Hint

    Not Speaker.

    Answer

    (b) Chairman.

  2. Q2 · 1 mark · Very short answerBoard level

    What is the minimum age for an MLA? [1]

    Hint

    Twenty-five.

    Answer

    Twenty-five years.

  3. Q3 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

    Name two states with a Legislative Council. [2]

    Hint

    Bicameral.

    Answer

    Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra (also Bihar, Karnataka).

  4. Q4 · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level

    Assertion (A): The Legislative Council is never dissolved.
    Reason (R): Its members serve staggered six-year terms.
    (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
    (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
    (c) A is true but R is false.
    (d) A is false but R is true.

    Hint

    Continuity.

    Answer

    (a).

  5. Q5 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Explain the financial powers of the Legislative Assembly. [3]

    Hint

    Money bill.

    Answer

    Money Bills originate only in the Assembly, it passes the budget and no tax can be levied without its approval.

  6. Q6 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    How does the Assembly control the executive? [3]

    Hint

    Responsibility.

    Answer

    Through questions, adjournment and cut motions and a no-confidence motion; the ministry is collectively responsible to it.

  7. Q7 · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

    State two arguments for and two against a second House. [4]

    Hint

    Debate.

    Answer

    For: revises hasty laws and brings experts; against: costly and can only delay bills.

  8. Q8 · 2 marks · Very short answerHarder board level

    Who nominates some Council members and on what basis? [2]

    Hint

    Governor.

    Answer

    The Governor nominates persons with special knowledge of literature, science, art, the co-operative movement and social service.

  9. Q9 · 4 marks · Case-basedHOTS / competency

    Case. A Chief Minister loses a vote of no confidence in the Assembly. (i) What follows? [1] (ii) Can the Council save the ministry? [1] (iii) Why not? [2]

    Hint

    Responsible.

    Answer

    (i) The ministry must resign. (ii) No. (iii) The ministry is not responsible to the Council.

  10. Q10 · 3 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

    Evaluate: "The Legislative Council is only a house of accommodating defeated politicians." Give a fair answer. [3]

    Hint

    Balanced.

    Answer

    Some critics say so; but it can revise hasty laws, include experts and provide continuity as a permanent House.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.Assembly term?Show answer

    Five years.

  2. 2.Council members minimum?Show answer

    40.

  3. 3.Presiding officer of Assembly?Show answer

    Speaker.

  4. 4.Council delay on Money Bill?Show answer

    14 days.

  5. 5.Is the Council permanent?Show answer

    Yes.

Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council: Composition and Powers: frequently asked questions

Can a Council be abolished?

Yes, by Parliament on the Assembly's resolution.

Who is the head of the legislature?

The Governor is part of it.

Who is the Chairman elected by?

Members of the Council.