The Governor is an integral part of the State Legislature under:
Article 168
Although the Governor is not a member of either House of the State Legislature, the Governor performs several important legislative functions.
The Governor's legislative powers include:
The State Legislature consists of:
Governor + Legislative Assembly + Legislative Council, where applicable
Therefore, even though the Governor is not a member of the Legislature, the Governor is constitutionally a component of the State Legislature.
The Governor summons the:
The Governor can summon the Legislature from time to time.
The Constitution requires that:
Six months shall not intervene between the last sitting of one session and the date appointed for the first sitting of the next session.
The Governor normally exercises this power on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.
The Governor can:
Prorogue the House or Houses of the State Legislature
Prorogation ends a session of the Legislature.
It is different from:
Dissolution
Prorogation does not end the existence of the Legislative Assembly.
The Governor can dissolve the:
Legislative Assembly
This power applies only to the Assembly, not the Legislative Council.
In the normal parliamentary system, dissolution is generally exercised on the advice of the Council of Ministers.
However, constitutional discretion may arise in exceptional political circumstances.
Remember:
Article 174
│
├── Summon
├── Prorogue
└── Dissolve Assembly
Key distinction
Summoning → Calls the Legislature
Prorogation → Ends a session
Dissolution → Ends the Legislative Assembly
6. Governor's Right to Address the Legislature
Article 175
The Governor may:
Address the Legislative Assembly
Address both Houses where the State has a Legislative Council
Send messages to either House or both Houses
The Governor may address the Legislature regarding:
Pending Bills or other matters
7. Special Address
Article 176
The Governor delivers a special address at:
The first session after each general election to the Legislative Assembly
The first session of each year
The address explains the:
Policies and programmes of the State Government
8. Governor's Address vs Special Address
Article 175 Article 176
Governor's right to address Special address
May address Legislature Constitutionally required occasions
May send messages First session after general election
No fixed annual requirement First session of each year
9. Nomination to Legislative Council
Article 171
In a State having a Legislative Council, the Governor nominates:
One-sixth of the members
of the Legislative Council.
The nominated members should have special knowledge or practical experience in:
Literature
Science
Art
Cooperative movement
Social service
This is an important constitutional function of the Governor.
10. Assent to Bills
Article 200
When a Bill passed by the State Legislature is presented to the Governor, the Governor may:
Give assent
Withhold assent
Return the Bill for reconsideration, where permitted
Reserve the Bill for consideration of the President
This is one of the most important legislative powers of the Governor.
11. Governor's Options on a Bill
The constitutional framework can be remembered as:
State Legislature
↓
Bill
↓
Governor
↓
┌─────┼─────┬────────┐
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
Assent Withhold Return Reserve
12. Assent
If the Governor gives assent:
The Bill becomes an Act
subject to constitutional requirements.
13. Withholding Assent
The Governor may withhold assent to a Bill.
However, the Governor's powers operate within the constitutional framework and the parliamentary system.
The Governor is not intended to function as an independent political veto authority over the elected government.
14. Returning a Bill
The Governor may return a Bill for reconsideration.
However:
A Money Bill cannot be returned for reconsideration.
If a non-Money Bill is passed again by the Legislature after reconsideration, the Governor cannot withhold assent to that Bill.
15. Money Bill
A Money Bill cannot be returned by the Governor for reconsideration.
The Governor may:
Give assent
Withhold assent
Reserve the Bill for consideration of the President
The Governor's recommendation is also required for the introduction of a Money Bill in the State Legislature.
16. Reservation of Bills for President
The Governor may reserve certain Bills for the consideration of the:
President of India
This is provided under:
Articles 200 and 201
Reservation may be:
Mandatory in constitutionally specified situations
Discretionary in other constitutionally permitted situations
17. Mandatory Reservation — High Court
The Governor must reserve a Bill for the consideration of the President if, in the Governor's opinion, the Bill would:
So derogate from the powers of the High Court as to endanger the position which that Court is designed to fill under the Constitution.
This is a constitutionally significant mandatory reservation.
18. President's Action on Reserved Bill
Article 201
When a Bill is reserved for the President, the President may:
Give assent
Withhold assent
Return the Bill for reconsideration, where it is not a Money Bill
If the Bill is returned and passed again by the State Legislature, it is again presented to the President.
The Constitution does not require the President to give assent after reconsideration.
19. Governor's Ordinance-Making Power
Article 213
When the State Legislature is not in session, the Governor may promulgate an:
Ordinance
if immediate action is considered necessary.
An Ordinance has the:
Same force and effect as an Act of the State Legislature
subject to constitutional limitations.
20. Conditions for Ordinance
The Governor can promulgate an Ordinance only when:
Legislature is not in session
Immediate action is considered necessary
Where the State has two Houses, the Ordinance-making power operates when both Houses are not in session.
21. Ordinance and Legislative Approval
An Ordinance must be laid before the State Legislature.
It ceases to operate:
Six weeks after the reassembly of the Legislature
unless it is earlier withdrawn or replaced by an Act.
Where the State has two Houses, the six-week period is calculated from the later date of reassembly.
22. Governor's Ordinance Power and Discretion
The Governor normally exercises the Ordinance-making power on the:
Aid and advice of the Council of Ministers
However, in constitutionally specified situations, the Governor may need to obtain instructions from the President before promulgating an Ordinance.
23. Financial Legislative Functions
The Governor has several legislative functions relating to State finances.
These include:
Causing the Annual Financial Statement to be laid before the Legislature
Recommending demands for grants
Recommending introduction of certain financial Bills
Authorising advances from the State Contingency Fund as provided by law
Relevant provisions include:
Article 202
Article 203
Article 207
24. State Budget
Article 202
The Governor causes the:
Annual Financial Statement
to be laid before the State Legislature.
The Annual Financial Statement is commonly called the:
State Budget
The Governor does not personally prepare the Budget.
The elected government prepares it and causes it to be presented through the constitutional procedure.
25. Demands for Grants
Article 203
No demand for a grant can be made except on the:
Recommendation of the Governor
This is a constitutional requirement.
26. Financial Bills
Article 207
Certain financial Bills require the:
Governor's recommendation
before introduction in the State Legislature.
This is another important legislative-financial function of the Governor.
27. Messages to the Legislature
Under Article 175, the Governor may send messages to:
Either House
Both Houses
The House must consider any matter required by the Governor to be considered through such a message.
This power allows constitutional communication between the Governor and Legislature.
28. Governor and Legislative Council
In bicameral States, the Governor interacts constitutionally with:
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Council
However, the Governor's power to dissolve applies only to:
Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Council is a:
Permanent House
and is not subject to dissolution.
29. Governor and Legislative Procedure
The Governor's legislative role can be represented as:
STATE LEGISLATURE
↓
Bill Passed
↓
Governor
↓
┌─────┼──────────────┐
↓ ↓ ↓
Assent Return Reserve
↓ ↓
Reconsideration President
30. Important Constitutional Articles
Article Governor's Legislative Function
168 Governor as part of State Legislature
171 Nomination to Legislative Council
174 Summoning, prorogation, dissolution
175 Address and messages
176 Special address
200 Assent to Bills
201 Reserved Bills
202 State Budget
203 Demands for Grants
207 Financial Bills
213 Ordinance-making power
31. Important Supreme Court Judgments
Shamsher Singh v. State of Punjab — 1974
The Supreme Court emphasised that the Governor normally acts on the:
Aid and advice of the Council of Ministers
This is important for understanding the Governor's legislative and executive powers.
Nabam Rebia v. Deputy Speaker — 2016
The Supreme Court examined the Governor's powers concerning the State Legislature and emphasised that constitutional powers cannot be exercised arbitrarily.
The Governor's role remains subject to:
Constitutional limitations
State of Punjab v. Principal Secretary to the Governor of Punjab — 2023
The Supreme Court addressed the Governor's role in dealing with Bills and emphasised that constitutional powers relating to legislative Bills cannot be used to indefinitely obstruct the legislative process.
The case is important for understanding:
Governor + Bills + Constitutional Timelines
32. Governor's Legislative Powers — Master Classification
GOVERNOR'S LEGISLATIVE POWERS
│
├── Legislature
│ ├── Summon
│ ├── Prorogue
│ └── Dissolve Assembly
│
├── Addresses
│ ├── Article 175
│ └── Article 176
│
├── Legislative Council
│ └── Nominate 1/6 members
│
├── Bills
│ ├── Assent
│ ├── Withhold
│ ├── Return
│ └── Reserve for President
│
├── Finance
│ ├── Budget
│ ├── Demands for Grants
│ └── Financial Bills
│
└── Ordinance
└── Article 213
33. UPSC Prelims Facts
Governor is a part of the State Legislature under Article 168.
Governor can summon and prorogue the Legislature under Article 174.
Governor can dissolve the Legislative Assembly.
Legislative Council cannot be dissolved.
Governor can address and send messages to the Legislature under Article 175.
Special address is under Article 176.
Governor nominates one-sixth of Legislative Council members under Article 171.
Assent to Bills is governed by Article 200.
Reserved Bills are dealt with under Article 201.
State Budget is under Article 202.
Demands for Grants are under Article 203.
Certain financial Bills require Governor's recommendation under Article 207.
Ordinance-making power is under Article 213.
A Money Bill cannot be returned for reconsideration by the Governor.
34. UPSC Prelims Traps
Trap 1
"The Governor is a member of the Legislative Assembly."
False
The Governor is a component of the State Legislature but is not a member of either House.
Trap 2
"The Governor can dissolve the Legislative Council."
False
The Legislative Council is a permanent House.
Trap 3
"The Governor nominates one-third of the Legislative Council."
False
The Governor nominates:
One-sixth
Trap 4
"The Governor can return a Money Bill for reconsideration."
False
A Money Bill cannot be returned for reconsideration.
Trap 5
"If the Legislature passes a returned Bill again, the Governor can withhold assent again."
False
For a non-Money Bill passed again after reconsideration, the Governor cannot withhold assent.
Trap 6
"Governor's Ordinance power is under Article 123."
False
Article 123 → President
Article 213 → Governor
Trap 7
"Governor personally prepares the State Budget."
False
The elected government prepares the Budget; the Governor causes it to be laid before the Legislature.
Trap 8
"The Governor's special address is delivered at every sitting of the Legislature."
False
It is delivered at the first session after each general election and the first session of each year.
35. Article Memory Map
168 → Governor + State Legislature
171 → Legislative Council Nomination
174 → Summon + Prorogue + Dissolve
175 → Address + Messages
176 → Special Address
200 → Assent to Bills
201 → Reserved Bills
202 → State Budget
203 → Demands for Grants
207 → Financial Bills
213 → Ordinance
36. Quick Revision
LEGISLATIVE POWERS
↓
GOVERNOR
│
├── Legislature
│ ├── Summon
│ ├── Prorogue
│ └── Dissolve Assembly
│
├── Address
│ ├── Article 175
│ └── Article 176
│
├── Bills
│ ├── Assent
│ ├── Withhold
│ ├── Return
│ └── Reserve
│
├── Finance
│ ├── Budget
│ ├── Grants
│ └── Financial Bills
│
└── Ordinance
└── Article 213
37. Mains Perspective
The Governor's legislative powers are designed to integrate the constitutional head of the State with the functioning of the State Legislature.
However, these powers must operate within the parliamentary framework.
The central constitutional balance is:
Governor's Constitutional Authority + Legislative Democratic Mandate + Council of Ministers' Responsibility
Controversies mainly arise when the Governor's discretionary role intersects with:
Government formation
Floor tests
Bills
Legislative sessions
Ordinances
Centre-State relations
Therefore, constitutional neutrality and timely exercise of powers are essential.
38. Way Forward
Respect Legislative Mandate
The Governor should respect the democratic mandate of the elected Legislature.
Timely Bill Decisions
Bills should not be kept pending indefinitely.
Limited Discretion
Discretion should be exercised only where constitutionally justified.
Constitutional Neutrality
The Governor should avoid partisan political conduct.
Cooperative Federalism
The legislative role of the Governor should strengthen constitutional cooperation between:
Union + State
39. Final Takeaway
The Governor's legislative powers can be remembered under five heads:
1. Legislature
→ Summon, prorogue and dissolve Assembly
2. Address
→ Articles 175 and 176
3. Bills
→ Assent, withhold, return and reserve
4. Finance
→ Budget, grants and financial Bills
5. Ordinance
→ Article 213
The most important UPSC Articles are:
168 → Legislature
174 → Summon/Prorogue/Dissolve
175–176 → Address
200–201 → Bills
202–207 → Finance
213 → Ordinance
The central principle is:
The Governor is a constitutional component of the State Legislature, but legislative powers are normally exercised within the parliamentary system and subject to constitutional limitations.