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State GovernmentThe government in India functions at three levels –the central, the state and the local. Like other democratic governments, the state government also consists of three branches– the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. Let us read about them later.

The Legislature A state needs a government to

guide it ,and some good laws to help the government do this. To make laws we need a body empowered to make them. In some states the legislature consists of two houses- the Vidhan Sabha , and the Vidhan Parishad. Let us read about them.

Vidhan Sabha, Rajasthan

The Vidhan Parishad

It is the upper house of the assembly. The tenure of a member in the Vidhan Parishad is six years. Vidhan Parishad is a permanent house. Some members of the Vidhan Parishad are indirectly elected by the members of the legislative assembly (MLAs), by some local bodies, etc. Governor also nominate some members.

Vidhan Parishad, Maharashtra

The Vidhan Sabha

It consists of elected representatives of people. They are called MLAs (Member of Legislature Assembly). Each MLA is elected from a constituency. All the states don’t have the same number of MLAs. The constitution has set the maximum number of MLAs as 500 and minimum as 40 in a state.

MLAs of M.P.

Function of Vidhan Sabha

Among many functions of the legislature the most important are making laws and presenting the budget. Laws are made for those subjects that come under the State List. Let us see how laws are made in the next slide.

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The Executive

In the study of political science the executive branch of government has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The state executive consists of the governor, the chief minister and the Council of Ministers. Let us read about them.

The Governor

The governor is the constitutional head of a state. He/She is appointed by the president of India. The judicial power of the governor includes reducing judicial punishment. The term of the governor is normally for 5 years. Governor does not have any actual say in the running of the government.

Governor of Gujarat

The Chief Minister

The leader of the party which has the majority in the assembly is appointed as the chief minister by the governor. The Chief Minister is then invited by the governor to form the new ministry. The Chief Minister selects the ministers from among his or her colleagues in the legislature. This minister form the Council of Ministers or the State Cabinet

Chief Minister of Gujarat

The Council of Ministers

The Council of Ministers is the executive body of the state and carries out the day to day administration of the state. It advises the governor on important issues and takes all policy decisions. The Council of Ministers is answerable to the legislature houses and remains in the office as long as it has support of the majority in the assembly.

The Council of Ministers

The Judiciary

The judiciary at the state level consists of the High Court and subordinate courts like the District and Sessions Courts , the Provincial Courts and the Nyaya Panchayats. The High Court stands at the head of the judiciary at the state level.

High Courts of India

High court , Maharashtra

Supreme Court , India

High court , Gujarat