1920 Madras Presidency Legislative Council election: Difference between revisions

Based on the recommendations of the  [[Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms|Montague-Chelmsford]]  report, the  [[Government of India Act 1919|Government of India Act of 1919]] was enacted. The Act enlarged the provincial legislative councils and increased the number of elected members more than nominated members and company officials. It introduced a system of [[dyarchy]] in the Provinces. Although this Act brought about representative Government in India, the Governor was empowered with overriding powers. It classified the subjects as belonging to either the Centre or the Provinces. The [[Governor-General of India|Governor General]] could override any law passed by the Provincial councils. It brought about the concept of "Partial Responsible Government" in the provinces. Provincial subjects were divided into two categories - reserved and transferred. Education, Sanitation, Local self-government, Agriculture and Industries were listed as the transferred subjects. Law, Finance, Revenue and Home affairs were the reserved subjects. The provincial council could decide the budget in so far it related to the transferred subjects. Executive machinery dealing with those subjects was placed under the direct control of provincial legislature. However, the provincial legislature and the ministers did not have any control over the reserved subjects, which came under the Governor and his Executive council.<ref name="Krishnaswamy">{{cite book | title=The role of Madras Legislature in the freedom struggle, 1861-1947| author=S. Krishnaswamy| year=1989| pages=72–83| publisher=People's Pub. House (New Delhi) }}</ref><ref name="tnassembly">{{cite web|url=http://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/history/history.htm |title=The State Legislature - Origin and Evolution |access-date=17 December 2009 |publisher=[[Tamil Nadu]] Government |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413233934/http://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/history/history.htm |archive-date=13 April 2010 }}</ref><ref name="legislatures">{{cite web|url=http://legislativebodiesinindia.gov.in/States/tamilnadu/tamilnadu-w.htm|title=Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|access-date=17 December 2009|publisher=Government of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102222439/http://legislativebodiesinindia.gov.in/States/tamilnadu/tamilnadu-w.htm|archive-date=2 January 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="rajaraman1">{{cite book | title=The Justice Party: a historical perspective, 1916-37| last=Rajaraman| first=P. | year=1988| pages=206| publisher=Poompozhil Publishers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GGMmAAAAMAAJ}}</ref> It introduced for the first time bicameralism and direct elections in the country. Thus the Indian legislative council was replaced by a bicameral legislature consisting of an Upper House (Council Of State) and a Lower House (Legislative Assembly).