Article 178 is a fundamental provision in the Constitution of India that establishes the offices of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker for every State Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha). This provision is part of Part VI (The States), Chapter III (The State Legislature) of the Constitution. The concept originated as Draft Article 157 and was adopted without debate on June 2, 1949, to ensure the self-regulation and procedural integrity of the state legislatures.
The mechanism of Article 178 is straightforward: it mandates that every Legislative Assembly of a State shall, as soon as may be, choose two members from among its members to be the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. If either office becomes vacant, the Assembly must choose another member to fill the position. The Speaker acts as the presiding officer, responsible for maintaining decorum, guiding legislative proceedings, and safeguarding the dignity of the House. The Deputy Speaker performs the Speaker's duties in their absence.
This Article is closely connected to Article 93, which makes an identical provision for the Lok Sabha at the Union level. It also links directly to Article 179, which outlines the conditions for the vacation, resignation, and removal of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker from their offices. The core text of Article 178 has remained consistent since the Constitution of India 1950.