Imperial Legislative Council

Imperial Legislative Council
Type
Type	Unicameral (1861–1919) Bicameral (1919–1947)
Houses	Council of State (upper) Central Legislative Assembly (lower)
Term limits	Council of State: 5 years Central Legislative Assembly: 3 years
History
Founded	1861 (1861)
Disbanded	14 August 1947 (14 August 1947)
Preceded by	Governor-General's Council
Succeeded by	Constituent Assembly of India Constituent Assembly of Pakistan
Seats	145 seats in Central Legislative Assembly(Lower House) and 60 seats in Council of States(Upper House)
Meeting place
Council House, New Delhi, British India (from 1927)

The Imperial Legislative Council (ILC) was the legislature of British India from 1861 to 1947. It was established under the Charter Act of 1853 by providing for the addition of 6 additional members to the Governor General Council for legislative purposes. Thus, the act separated the legislative and executive functions of the council and it was this body within the Governor General's Council which came to known as the Indian/Central Legislative Council. In 1861 it was renamed as Imperial Legislative Council and the strength was increased.

It succeeded the Council of the Governor-General of India, and was succeeded by the Constituent Assembly of India and after 1950, was succeeded by Parliament of India.

During the rule of the East India Company, the council of the Governor-General of India had both executive and legislative responsibilities. The council had four members elected by the Court of Directors. The first three members were permitted to participate on all occasions, but the fourth member was only allowed to sit and vote when legislation was being debated. In 1858, the British Crown took over the administration from the East India Company. The council was transformed into the Imperial Legislative Council, and the Court of Directors of the Company, which had the power to elect members of the Governor-General's Council, ceased to have this power. Instead, the one member who had a vote only on legislative questions came to be appointed by the Sovereign, and the other three members by the Secretary of State for India.