Position of the Legislative Council
Topic: State Government: Governor, Chief Minister, State Legislature and Union Territories · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Articles 196 to 198 make a state's Legislative Council much weaker than the Assembly. It can delay an ordinary bill, meaning any bill that is not a money bill, for three months at first. If the Assembly passes the bill again, the Council can delay it for one more month, four months in all. It gets 14 days on a money bill (a bill only about taxes, borrowing or spending) and can only suggest changes. There is no joint sitting, a meeting of both Houses together to settle a dispute. The Council does not vote on spending demands and cannot remove the ministry.
Example
Suppose a bill starts in the Council and the Assembly rejects it. The bill simply dies. If a bill starts in the Assembly, the Council can only hold it up for a few months, after which the Assembly's view wins.
Don't confuse with
- Rajya Sabha: The Rajya Sabha can block ordinary bills, and a deadlock goes to a joint sitting. The Legislative Council can only delay.