THE LEGISLATIVE REFORMS ACT II OF 1933

The Legislative Reforms Act II OF 1108 (1933) created two legislative chambers, the Sri Chithra State Council and the Sri Mulam Assembly. The Assembly consisted of 72 members of whom 62 were non-officials, 48 being elected by various constituencies and 14 nominated by Government to represent minority communities and other interests. The Dewan was the President of the Assembly. There was also an elected Deputy President. The Sri Chithra State Councils composed of 37 members of whom 27 were non-officials and 10 officials.The Dewan was the ex-officio President of the Council.

Both Houses of the Legislature possessed the right to initiate and pass legislative measures and discuss the annual budget of revenue and expenditure. Members of both Houses may ask questions and supplementary questions and move resolutions on matters of general public interest. All legislative measures require the assent of both chambers before they are submitted to His Highness the Maharaja for his assent. Certain emergency powers of legislation were vested in the Dewan. But the laws so passed will be in force only for six months. The budget was presented to both Houses, but the Assembly had a larger control over the finance than the Council, since the former may reduce or omit a demand or part thereof while the latter had to deal with each demand as a whole and had no power to reduce the grant or any of the items comprising it. The law provided for the constitution of joint committees, to settle difference of opinion which might arise between the two Chambers. A Public Accounts Committee consisting of officials and non-officials scrutinised the audit and appropriation reports of Government