Member of the Legislative Assembly

A Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), or a Member of the Legislature (ML), is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction. representative who then becomes a member of parliament the Legislative Assembly.

Australia

Members of the Legislative Assembly use the suffix MP in New South Wales^[1] and Queensland.^[2]

In Western Australia, Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory and Norfolk Island, members are known as MLAs. However the suffix MP is also commonly used. South Australia and Tasmania have a House of Assembly and denote its members MHA.

In Victoria members can use either MP or MLA.^[3]

In federal parliament, members of the House of Representatives are designated MP and not MHR.^[4]

Brazil

In Brazil, Members of all 26 Legislative Assemblies (Portuguese: Assembléias Legislativas) are called deputados estaduais (English: state deputies). The Federal District Legislative Assembly is actually called Legislative Chamber (Portuguese: Câmara Legislativa), and is composed by deputados distritais (English: districtual deputies). Unlike the federal legislative body, which is bicameral, Brazilian states legislatures are unicameral. Members of the Lower House are also called deputies, but they are deputados federais (English: federal deputies).

Canada

In Canada, members of legislative assemblies are members of the elected provincial legislatures and are called MLAs in all provinces and territories except:

• Ontario, where they have been called Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) since 1938 and before 1938 used both MPP and MLA,
• Quebec, where they are called Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) since 1968, and
• Newfoundland and Labrador, where they are called Members of the House of Assembly (MHAs).

Members of the Legislative Assembly in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia (despite being a House of Assembly), Prince Edward Island and in the three territories (Yukon, NWT and Nunavut) are known as MLAs.

Falkland Islands

Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands use the suffix MLA. In 2009 the Legislative Council of the Falkland Islands (which had existed since the 1840s) was replaced with the new Legislative Assembly. As a result, Members of the Legislative Assembly are often still referred to as Councillors.

Hong Kong

Members of Hong Kong Legislative Council are referred to as Legco Councillors.

India

Out of the 29 states and 7 Union Territories of India, there is a legislature in all the 29 states and 2 Union Territories (Delhi and Puducherry).

A person, provided he is qualified, is elected as an MLA on the basis of universal adult suffrage by an electorate consisting of all citizens above the age of 18 of that state or UT. In some states, the Governor may appoint 1 member to represent minorities, e.g. the Anglo-Indian community, if he finds that minority inadequately represented in the Legislative Assembly. Those elected or nominated (by the Governors) to Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) are referred to as Members of Legislative Assembly or MLAs.

Each legislative constituency of the State or UT is represented by only one MLA. As outlined in the Constitution of India, the number of legislative seats in a legislature cannot be more than 500 members and fewer than 60 members. However, with an Act of Parliament, the seats can be fewer than 60, as such is the case in the states of Goa, Sikkim, Mizoram and the UT of Puducherry.

Depending on the population and other factors, each State or UT has varying numbers of MLAs, the highest being in the state of Uttar Pradesh (403) and the least in the UT of Puducherry (30).

Owing to parliamentary democracy, wherein some members of the legislature also act as the executive, some MLAs may have triple responsibilities: as an MLA, as a cabinet minister of a department and/or as a chief minister of that state.

Malaysia

Members of a state legislative assembly comprises elected representatives from single-member constituencies during state elections through the first-past-the-post system. The majority party in each assembly forms the state government, and the leader of the majority party becomes chief minister of the state. The state legislative assemblies are unicameral, unlike the bicameral Parliament of Malaysia. The hereditary rulers or governors are vested with powers to dissolve their respective state legislative assemblies on the advice of the chief minister. Once dissolved, elections must be carried out within an interim period of sixty (60) days. Usually, state elections are held simultaneously with the federal parliamentary elections, with the exception of Sarawak, and before 2004, Sabah.

Northern Ireland

Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the devolved legislature of Northern Ireland are known as MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly).

The Assembly was suspended on October 14, 2002 but the persons elected to it at the 2003 Assembly Election were called together on 15 May 2006 under the Northern Ireland Act 2006 ^[5] for the purpose of electing a First Minister and Deputy First Minister and choosing the members of an Executive (before 25 November 2006) as a preliminary to the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland. Another election was held on 7 March 2007 and powers were restored to the Assembly in May 2007.

United States of America

In the United States of America, state legislator is the generic term referring to a member of the legislative body of any of the country's 50 states.

The formal name of the legislature varies from state to state. In 24 states, it is simply called the Legislature or the State Legislature, while in 19 states, the legislature is called the General Assembly. In Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the legislature is called the General Court, while North Dakota and Oregon designate the legislature as the Legislative Assembly.

The Associated Press guidelines for journalists, refer to legislators as state representatives or state senators to avoid confusion with federal counterparts.

Wales

Members of the National Assembly for Wales, the devolved Assembly of Wales are usually known as AMs or Aelod y Cynulliad (ACs).^[6]

References