Karnataka Legislative Assembly

          The erstwhile Mysore State which is now renamed as Karnataka is the first State in India to initiate the formation of legislative institutions  associating peoples representatives,  in the administration of the State.  On 29 March 1881 a decision to set up the Representative Assembly was taken by the Maharaja Sri Chamarajendra Wadiyar.  On 25 August 1881 an order was issued by the Maharaja for the constitution of the Assembly.  The First meeting of the Assembly was held on 7 October 1881.  It was attended by 144 members.  The Assembly developed gradually and was placed on a statutory basis with enlarged powers and functions under the Act XVIII of 1923.  The Act of 1923 fixed the term of the Assembly as three years.  After Independence, the Maharaja of Mysore by a proclamation dated 29 October 1947 set up a Constituent Assembly to draft a Constitution for Mysore State.  Majority of the members of the Constituent Assembly pleaded for governance of the State by the Constitution to be framed by the Constituent Assembly of India.  The Maharaja issued a proclamation on 25 November 1949 and the Representative Assembly and the Council were dissolved on 16 December 1949.  The Constituent Assembly of Mysore State became the Provisional Assembly of Mysore until the Elections held under the Constitution of India.  The first Assembly under the Constitution was constituted in 1952. It consisted of 99 elected members and one nominated member.  After the re-organisation of States in 1956, the first sitting of the Assembly of the new State of Karnataka was held on 19 December 1956.  The strength of the Assembly was 208 which was increased to 216 and 224 in 1967 and 1978, respectively. 

The Karnataka Legislature is bicameral. The Legislative Assembly has a  strength of 224 elected members and one nominated member.  The life of the Legislative Assembly is five years from the date appointed for its first meeting unless  sooner dissolved.

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