Part VI - The States • Article

Article 201 Simplified: Bills reserved for consideration

Article 201 deals with what happens after a Governor reserves a State Bill for the President. The President then has two options: (1) Assent—the Bill becomes law; (2) Withhold assent—the Bill dies. For non-Money Bills, the President can also direct the Governor to send the Bill back to the State Legislature for reconsideration. If the legislature re-passes it within 6 months, the Bill goes back to the President again. Unlike the Governor, the President has no obligation to sign even if the legislature re-passes the Bill.

Official Text

When a Bill is reserved by a Governor for the consideration of the President, the President shall declare either that he assents to the Bill or that he withholds assent therefrom: Provided that, where the Bill is not a Money Bill, the President may direct the Governor to return the Bill to the House or, as the case may be, the Houses of the Legislature of the State together with such a message as is mentioned in the first proviso to article 200 and, when a Bill is so returned, the House or Houses shall reconsider it accordingly within a period of six months from the date of receipt of such message and, if it is again passed by the House or Houses with or without amendment, it shall be presented again to the President for his consideration.

Simple Meaning

Explain Like Ten

Sometimes the Governor sends a Bill to the President saying 'I can't decide this, you handle it.' Article 201 says the President then becomes the final judge. The President can approve the Bill, reject it, or send it back to the State Assembly for another look. If the Assembly re-works it within 6 months and sends it back, the President decides again. Unlike the Governor (who must sign a re-passed Bill), the President is free to reject it even the second time.

Student Mode

Article 201 is the state-level equivalent of Article 111 (President's assent) for reserved Bills. Key distinctions from Article 200: (1) The President—not the Governor—makes the final call; (2) The President is not bound to assent even after the legislature re-passes a returned Bill; (3) The 6-month reconsidering window applies only to non-Money Bills returned by the President's direction; (4) There is no constitutional provision for the President to return a Money Bill for reconsideration.

Example

A Rajasthan Bill is reserved by the Governor because it affects central revenue matters. The President directs the Governor to return it for reconsideration. The State Legislature re-passes it within the 6-month window. The Bill now goes back to the President, who still has the discretion to assent or withhold assent.

Key Takeaway

Article 201 gives the President the final word on Governor-reserved Bills—and unlike the Governor, the President can withhold assent even after the legislature re-passes a returned Bill.

FAQs

Can the President return a Money Bill reserved under Article 201?

No. The proviso to Article 201 explicitly applies only to Bills 'not a Money Bill.' Money Bills reserved for the President can only be assented to or have assent withheld.

What is the time limit for the State Legislature to reconsider a Bill returned by the President?

Six months from the date of receipt of the President's message. If the legislature fails to act within six months, the Bill lapses.

Quiz

Under Article 201, once the President returns a non-Money Bill and the State Legislature re-passes it, what does the President do?

Answer: Reconsiders the Bill and may assent or withhold assent

What is the time limit given to the State Legislature under Article 201 to reconsider a Bill returned by the President's direction?

Answer: 6 months