Article 168

Constitution of Legislatures in States

Official heading: “Constitution of Legislatures in States.”

Check this article against the official editionAwaiting human legal review

Source edition: The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2026)
Source locator: Part VI, Article 168, printed pages 75–76
Last human source-link check: Not yet checked
Last human legal review: Not yet reviewed

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1. In One Sentence

Article 168 provides for the establishment of Legislatures in States, consisting of the Governor and either two Houses (bicameral) or one House (unicameral).

2. What It Means in Everyday Language

Article 168 establishes the legislative organ of government in the States. In every State, the Legislature consists of the Governor together with the legislative chamber(s).

Bicameral vs. Unicameral: Most Indian States have a unicameral legislature consisting only of the Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha). A minority of States have a bicameral legislature consisting of both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad).

As enumerated in the text and subsequent reorganization acts, bicameral legislatures currently operate in six States: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.

3. Practical Illustrative Example

Everyday Scenario:

A bill is passed by the Legislative Assembly in a unicameral State like Kerala or Rajasthan.

Core takeaway: Under Article 168, the Legislature consists of the Governor and the Assembly; the bill becomes law once it receives the Governor's assent under Article 200.

Illustrative Notice: The Governor is an integral part of the Legislature, even though they do not sit or vote in legislative debates.

4. Important Limits, Qualifications & Exceptions

Article 168 defines the institutional architecture of State Legislatures across India.

Governor as component: Governor is an organic part of the State Legislature.
Bicameral States: Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.
Unicameral States: Legislative Assembly only.
Subject to legislative changes under Article 169.

5. Operative Constitutional Text

(1) For every State there shall be a Legislature which shall consist of the Governor, and— (a) in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh, two Houses; (b) in other States, one House. (2) Where there are two Houses of the Legislature of a State, one shall be known as the Legislative Council and the other as the Legislative Assembly, and where there is only one House, it shall be known as the Legislative Assembly.

Transcription for reference; compare with the linked official editionNot yet verified by a human legal reviewer

6. Sources & Historical Assembly Deliberations

Assembly quotations are withheld until wording, dates, and attribution have been checked against the primary record.

Sources & Citation Metadata

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Constitutional TextThe Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2026)Cited PDF page
Government of India (Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice) • Part VI, Article 168, printed pages 75–76 • Human source-link check pending
Primary PDF accessed and transcribed with AI assistance on 14 October 2026. Formatting and amendment annotation markers are omitted; operative wording is retained. This is not human legal review. Later amendments and commencement notifications have not been comprehensively checked.

Human legal review is pending; compare the text with the cited editionNon-partisan educational resource