Main features of federal legislature established by the Government of India Act, 1935 are:
1. Proposal of All – India Federation:
Under the Government of India Act, there was a proposal to form an all – India federation by joining 11 British provinces, 6 chief commissionaires and native states. The native states were given an option to join, or to remain separate from this federation. The princely states had been given option to join and not to join the AllIndia federation.
2. Provincial autonomy:
The units of federation had the right of self-governance in their internal matters.
3. Federal court:
To decide the disputes between the federation and its units, an establishment of federal court was proposed.
4. Division of powers:
The division of powers between the provinces and federation was made through the lists federal, provincial and concurrent, but residual powers were kept with the governor-general, not with the provincial legislature.
