Indian Polity: State Legislature

It Consist of Two houses:

Legislative Assembly (Article 170):

1. Under the Constitution of India, the Legislative Assembly of a State shall consist of not more than 500 and not less than 60 members chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies(some states have exceptions)
2. The biggest state like Uttar Pradesh has 403 members in its Assembly. Puducherry has 30 members. Mizoram, Goa have only 40 members each. Sikkim has 32 members
3. Governor has the power to nominate 1 Anglo Indian.
4. Minimum Age: 25 years
5. Term: 5 years(except Jammu and Kashmir where it is 6 years )
6. The house or each house of the State Legislature in India is from time to time summoned by the Governor who may also prorogue the house or either house and dissolve the Legislative Assembly. The period for which the house should meet or the required duration of the sessions is not laid down in the Constitution but the gap between two sessions must be less than six months.
7. The assembly has a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker elected by the House

Legislative council(Article 169):

• The VidhanParishad (or Legislative Council) is the upper house in those states of India that have a bicameral legislature. As of 2014, Seven (out of twenty-nine) states have a Legislative Council: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Maharashtra,Telangana and Uttar Pradesh
• Legislative councils are formed when Legislative assembly of that state passes a resolution by supporting 2/3^rd After this Parliament approve this resolution by simple majority.
• The Council shall be a continuing House and it is not subject to dissolution but one third of its members shall retire every two years
• The Council has a Chairman and Deputy Chairman elected by the Council.
• Members of Legislative Council:

1. One-third are elected by members of local bodies such as corporations, municipalities, and Zila Parishads.
2. One-third are elected by members of Legislative Assembly from among the persons who are not members of the Assembly.
3. One-twelfth are elected by persons who are graduates of three years’ standing residing in that state.
4. One-twelfth are elected by persons engaged for at least three years in teaching in educational institutions within the state not lower than secondary schools, including colleges and universities.
5. One-sixth are nominated by the governor from persons having knowledge or practical experience in fields such as literature, science, arts, the co-operative movement and social service