What are the powers and privileges granted to the Houses of State Legislatures and their members by the Constitution?
The Constitution grants freedom of speech in the Legislature of every State to its members. No member is liable to any proceedings in any court in respect of anything said or any vote given by him in the Legislature or any committee thereof. Additionally, no person is so liable in respect of the publication by or under the authority of a House of such a Legislature of any report, paper, votes or proceedings. The powers, privileges and immunities of a House of the State Legislature and its members are defined by the Legislature through laws, with default provisions being those in effect immediately before the coming into force of section 26 of the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978.