Q20. A person who becomes a State Minister without being a member of the legislature must become a member within what period?
[RSMSSB Physical Training Instructor (2018)]
A. Six months
B. One year
C. Three months
D. Two years
Answer: A. Six months
Explanation: Article 164(4) permits a minister to hold office without legislative membership for six consecutive months. If they do not become a member of either state House during that period, they cease to be a minister automatically.
Q19. If an ordinary bill originating in a State Legislative Council is rejected by the Assembly, what follows?
[APPSC Group 2 Prelims (11 Jun 2017)]
A. A joint sitting is called
B. The Council may send the bill directly to the Governor
C. The bill is automatically referred to Parliament
D. The bill comes to an end
Answer: D. The bill comes to an end
Explanation: An ordinary bill introduced in the Council requires Assembly approval to become law. If the Assembly rejects it, the Council cannot force its passage. The Constitution provides no state-level joint sitting to override the directly elected Assembly.
Q18. What is the normal tenure of a member of a State Legislative Council?
[Rajasthan Jail Prahari (1 Sep 2017, Shift 3)]
A. Three years
B. Four years
C. Six years
D. Five years
Answer: C. Six years
Explanation: A Council member ordinarily holds office for six years. Approximately one-third retire every two years under Article 172(2). The staggered cycle is essential to making the Council a continuing body, unlike the Assembly’s usual five-year term.
Q17. What is the minimum age to become a member of a State Legislative Council?
[Rajasthan Jail Prahari (3 Sep 2017, Shift 2)]
A. 35 years
B. 25 years
C. 30 years
D. 21 years
Answer: C. 30 years
Explanation: Article 173 fixes a thirty-year age minimum for Council membership. The corresponding minimum for the Legislative Assembly is twenty-five. Both also require Indian citizenship and compliance with the Constitution’s oath and statutory qualification rules.
Q16. The strength of a State Legislative Council cannot exceed what portion of the Assembly strength?
[Andhra Pradesh Police Constable Mains (22 Jan 2017)]
A. One-half
B. Two-thirds
C. One-third
D. One-fourth
Answer: C. One-third
Explanation: Article 171 specifies a ceiling of one-third of Assembly strength for a State Legislative Council. It also generally requires at least forty Council members. The combination is designed for a smaller revising chamber rather than a duplicate Assembly.
Q15. Which of the following states has a Legislative Council?
[Odisha Teacher Eligibility Test, Paper I (2016)]
A. Odisha
B. Bihar
C. Assam
D. Rajasthan
Answer: B. Bihar
Explanation: Bihar possesses a Legislative Council as well as a Legislative Assembly. Odisha, Assam and Rajasthan have only Legislative Assemblies. A legislative council exists only where enabled by the state-specific parliamentary legal framework under Article 169.
Q14. Consider statements about the State Legislative Assembly:
(i) Its normal tenure is five years.
(ii) The Chief Minister presides over its sittings.
(iii) Its members are directly elected.
(iv) The Governor may dissolve it.
Which are correct?
[Rajasthan Gram Sevak (18 Dec 2016)]
A. (i), (ii) and (iv)
B. (ii), (iii) and (iv)
C. (i), (iii) and (iv)
D. (i), (ii) and (iii)
Answer: C. (i), (iii) and (iv)
Explanation: The Assembly normally lasts five years, its members are directly elected, and the Governor has the constitutional dissolution power. The Speaker—not the Chief Minister—presides over its proceedings under Article 178, so statement (ii) is false.
Q13. Which of the following states does NOT have a Legislative Council?
[UKPSC Review Officer/Assistant Review Officer (2016)]
A. Uttar Pradesh
B. Maharashtra
C. Karnataka
D. Uttarakhand
Answer: D. Uttarakhand
Explanation: Uttarakhand has a unicameral legislature consisting of the Governor and Legislative Assembly. Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka also possess Legislative Councils. State councils perform a revising role but cannot decide whether the elected ministry retains Assembly confidence.
Q12. Consider the statements:
1. The Governor nominates one-sixth of the members of a State Legislative Council.
2. The Governor nominates two Anglo-Indian members to the State Legislative Assembly.
Which is correct?
[UPSSSC Lower Subordinate Services (26 Jun 2016)]
A. Only 1
B. Only 2
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: A. Only 1
Explanation: Article 171 provides that roughly one-sixth of Council members are nominated by the Governor. Statement 2 was incorrect even under the rules then in force: the former state Assembly Anglo-Indian nomination provision concerned one member, not two.
Q11. Who has the constitutional authority to dissolve a State Legislative Assembly before the expiry of its five-year term?
[HSSC Trained Graduate Teacher Science (7 Feb 2016)]
A. Speaker of the Assembly
B. Chief Minister
C. Governor
D. Two-thirds of Assembly members
Answer: C. Governor
Explanation: Article 174 empowers the Governor to dissolve the Assembly before its normal term expires, ordinarily on the constitutional advice of the Council of Ministers. The Speaker runs legislative proceedings but does not exercise the dissolution power.
