Meghalaya Legislative Assembly
Encyclopedia
The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly is a unicameral legislature
in the government
of the state of Meghalaya
in India
. Constituted as a directly elected body in 1972, it comprises 60 members, filled through direct elections held every five years. Like other Indian states, Meghalaya has a parliamentary system of government. The executive branch of the Meghalaya government is derived from the Legislative Assembly.
and represented in the Assam Legislative Assembly. The Indian Parliament passed the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act in 1969, which led to the establishment of an autonomous state of Meghalaya within Assam on April 2, 1970. A legislature of 37 members for the new autonomous state was established, with representatives elected indirectly by the autonomous direct councils. The first sitting of the assembly took place in Tura on April 14, 1970. In 1971, the Indian Parliament passed the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, which converted Meghalaya from an autonomous state within Assam to a full member state of the Indian Union. The State of Meghalaya was officially formed on January 21, 1972. The Legislative Assembly was then reconstituted as a directly elected body.
The regions of Meghalaya are represented in the Assembly, with 29 members elected from Khasi Hills, 7 from Jaintia Hills and 24 from Garo Hills.
The most recent elections for the Legislative Assembly
were held on 3 March 2008. They resulted in the election of 25 representatives from the Indian National Congress
, 14 from the Nationalist Congress Party
, 11 from the United Democratic Party
and 9 from amongst the other parties and independents. The election for one constituency - Baghmara - was postponed.
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
in the government
Government of Meghalaya
The Government of Meghalaya also known as the State Government of Meghalaya, or locally as State Government, is the supreme governing authority of the Indian state of Meghalaya and its 7 districts...
of the state of Meghalaya
Meghalaya
Meghalaya is a state in north-eastern India. The word "Meghalaya" literally means the Abode of Clouds in Sanskrit and other Indic languages. Meghalaya is a hilly strip in the eastern part of the country about 300 km long and 100 km wide, with a total area of about 8,700 sq mi . The...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Constituted as a directly elected body in 1972, it comprises 60 members, filled through direct elections held every five years. Like other Indian states, Meghalaya has a parliamentary system of government. The executive branch of the Meghalaya government is derived from the Legislative Assembly.
History
In independent India, the areas now constituting the state of Meghalaya were part of the state of AssamAssam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
and represented in the Assam Legislative Assembly. The Indian Parliament passed the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act in 1969, which led to the establishment of an autonomous state of Meghalaya within Assam on April 2, 1970. A legislature of 37 members for the new autonomous state was established, with representatives elected indirectly by the autonomous direct councils. The first sitting of the assembly took place in Tura on April 14, 1970. In 1971, the Indian Parliament passed the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, which converted Meghalaya from an autonomous state within Assam to a full member state of the Indian Union. The State of Meghalaya was officially formed on January 21, 1972. The Legislative Assembly was then reconstituted as a directly elected body.
The regions of Meghalaya are represented in the Assembly, with 29 members elected from Khasi Hills, 7 from Jaintia Hills and 24 from Garo Hills.
The most recent elections for the Legislative Assembly
Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election, 2008
The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election of 2008 took place in a single phase on 3 March 2008 to elect the Members of the Legislative Assembly from each of the 60 Assembly Constituencies in Meghalaya, India...
were held on 3 March 2008. They resulted in the election of 25 representatives from the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
, 14 from the Nationalist Congress Party
Nationalist Congress Party
The Nationalist Congress Party is a centre to centre left political party primarily based in the state of Maharashtra, India.-Background:...
, 11 from the United Democratic Party
United Democratic Party
There are several political parties called the United Democratic Party.* United Democratic Party * United Democratic Party * United Democratic Party, Cyprus* United Democratic Party...
and 9 from amongst the other parties and independents. The election for one constituency - Baghmara - was postponed.
Office-bearers
The office-bearers of the 8th Meghalaya Legislative Assembly are:- Charles PyngropeCharles PyngropeCharles Pyngrope is an Indian politician from the state of Meghalaya. He is the current Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.-References:...
- SpeakerSpeaker (politics)The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the... - Sanbhor SullaiSanbhor SullaiSanbhor Sullai is an Indian politician from the state of Meghalaya. He is the current Deputy Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.-References:...
- Deputy Speaker - Dr. Mukul SangmaMukul SangmaMukul M. Sangma is an Indian politician and a leader of the Indian National Congress party in Meghalaya state. He is the current Chief Minister of Meghalaya.-Early life:...
, Chief Minister of Meghalaya - Leader of the House - Conrad SangmaConrad SangmaConrad Sangma is an Indian politician from the state of Meghalaya and current Leader of the Opposition in the eighth Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, where he represents the Selsella constituency in the West Garo Hills district...
- Leader of the OppositionLeader of the OppositionThe Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party not in government in a Westminster System of parliamentary government... - Martin DanggoMartin DanggoMartin M. Danggo is an Indian politician from the state of Meghalaya who serves as the current Minister of Parliamentary Affairs in the Government of Meghalaya, and represents the Langrin constituency in the West Khasi Hills district in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. -References:...
- Minister of Parliamentary AffairsMinister of Parliamentary Affairs (India)The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs is the head of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and one of the cabinet ministers of the Government of India....
Committees
There are 15 committees in the Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya:- Business Advisory Committee: decides the time-table for assembly functions and for evaluation of legislation.
- Committee on Petitions: responsible for examining petitions submitted to the assembly, collecting evidence and preparing reports.
- Committee on Public Accounts: examines the budget, appropriations and auditing of state agencies, programmes and government.
- Committee on Public Undertakings: responsible for monitoring and improving the workings of public sector undertakings such as government corporations, housing programmes and economic development schemes.
- Committee on Estimates: evaluates statistics and estimates to improve the efficiency and administration of various government functions, agencies and programmes.
- Committee Welfare of the Scheduled Tribes & Scheduled Castes: responsible for monitoring programmes aimed for the economic and social development of the scheduled castes, tribes and backward classes residing in the state of Meghalaya.
- Committee of Privileges: examines any issues and violations of the privileges, conduct and benefits given to members of the assembly.
- Committee on Subordinate Legislation: monitors if the state government's functions and legislation comply with the state constitution.
- Committee on Government Assurances: monitors the reliability and fulfillment of targets and promises made by the chief minister and cabinet ministers.
- Rules Committee: maintains the rules of business and code of conduct for members of the assembly.
- House Committee: oversees the amenities for members of the assembly such as housing, food, health-care and transport.
- Library Committee: is responsible for the maintenance and development of the state government and assembly library.
- Select Committee: is charged with the examination and development of specific legislation, preparing it for final passage.
- Committee on the Empowerment of Women: oversees schemes and programmes aimed to increase representation of women in society and economic sectors.
- Budget Committee: examines budget proposals for various organs and departments of the state government.