Question

What is bicameral legislature?

Answer 1

Hint: The Constitution deals with the duration, organization, composition, procedures, powers, officers, privileges, and so on of the state legislature. All these are prescribed under Articles 168 to 212 under Part VI.

Complete answer:
The organization of state legislatures does not have uniformity. At present, only six states have a bicameral legislature, they are Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Bihar. This means that twenty-two states have a unicameral legislature. The Tamil Nadu Legislative Council Act, 2010 has not yet come into force. The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council Act, 2005 revived the Legislative Council in Andhra Pradesh. A Legislative Council was provided in Madhya Pradesh by the 7th Amendment Act of 1956. However, the President has to make a notification to this effect which has not been made. Thus, Madhya Pradesh still has one house only.
In a unicameral legislature, the state legislature consists of the governor and the legislative assembly. Whereas in a bicameral legislature, the state legislature consists of the governor, the legislative assembly, and the legislative council. Thus, there are two houses in a bicameral legislature. The legislative assembly (Vidhan Sabha) is the lower house (first chamber or popular house), while the legislative council (Vidhan Parishad) is the upper house (second chamber or house of elders).

Note: The Constitution provides for the creation or abolition of legislative councils in states. Accordingly, the Parliament can create a legislative council (where it does not exist) or abolish (where it already exists), if a resolution is passed to that effect by the legislative assembly of that concerned state. Such a resolution needs to be passed by the state assembly with a special majority.