Member of the Legislative Assembly
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A Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) is a representative elected to sit in a legislative assembly. The term most commonly refers to members of the legislature of a
federated state A federated state (also State (polity), state, province, region, Canton (administrative division), canton, Länder, land, governorate, oblast, emirate, or country) is a territorial and constitutional community forming part of a federation ...
or an autonomous region, but is also used for several national legislatures.


Australia

Members of the Legislative Assemblies of
New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
,
Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...
and Victoria, and the Houses of Assembly of
South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...
and
Tasmania Tasmania (; palawa kani: ''Lutruwita'') is an island States and territories of Australia, state of Australia. It is located to the south of the Mainland Australia, Australian mainland, and is separated from it by the Bass Strait. The sta ...
use the suffix MP. Previously, these states used the suffixes MLA and MHA respectively. Members of the Legislative Assemblies of
Western Australia Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Aust ...
, Northern Territory, and Australian Capital Territory are known as MLAs. However, the suffix MP is also commonly used. In the federal parliament, members of the House of Representatives are designated MP and not MHR.


Brazil

In Brazil, members of all 26 legislative assemblies () are called ''deputados estaduais'' (). Unlike the federal legislative body which is bicameral, Brazilian state legislatures are unicameral. The Federal District legislative assembly is called the ''Legislative Chamber'' () and is composed of ''deputados distritais'' (). Members of the Lower House are also called deputies, but they are ''deputados federais'' ().


Canada

In
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
, members of the federal House of Commons of Canada are described as members of Parliament (MPs) and members of the Senate as senators, although both the House and Senate are part of the
Parliament of Canada The Parliament of Canada () is the Canadian federalism, federal legislature of Canada. The Monarchy of Canada, Crown, along with two chambers: the Senate of Canada, Senate and the House of Commons of Canada, House of Commons, form the Bicameral ...
. Both senators and MPs are in the supercategory of parliamentarians. Members of subnational legislative assemblies, who are members of the elected provincial and territorial legislatures, are called MLAs in all provinces and territories ''except'': *
Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
, where they have been called members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) since 1938 (before then both MPP and MLA were used) *
Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...
, where in English they have been called members of the National Assembly (MNAs) since 1968 * Newfoundland and Labrador, where they are called members of the House of Assembly (MHAs). * Members of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick are known thereby. * Despite also styling its legislature as the House of Assembly, Nova Scotia describes members thereof 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 the Legislative Council of Hong Kong are referred to as Legco Councillors.


India

Of the 28 states and eight Union Territories of India, all 28 states and three Union Territories ( Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu and Kashmir) have legislative assemblies. A person, if qualified, may be elected as an MLA based on 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 one member to represent minorities, e.g. the Anglo-Indian community, if the Governor finds that minority is inadequately represented in the Legislative Assembly. Those elected or appointed to a Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) are referred to as Members of the Legislative Assembly or MLAs. Each legislative constituency of the State or UT is represented by only one MLA. As outlined in the Censtitution 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

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 Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...
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 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 An election is a formal group decision-making process whereby a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold Public administration, public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative d ...
was held on 7 March 2007 and powers were restored to the Assembly in May 2007.


South Korea

A member of any of the provincial legislative assemblies may be referred to as an ''MLA'' in English.


United States

In the
United States of America The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguo ...
, ''state legislator'' is a 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 recommend referring to state legislators as ''state representatives'' or ''state senators'' to avoid confusion with their federal counterparts.


Wales

Members of the Senedd, the devolved Parliament for
Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...
, are usually known as MSs or ''Aelodau o'r Senedd (ASau).''


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Member Of The Legislative Assembly Parliamentary titles