Bicameral

A bicameral system of government is one where there are two legislative or parliamentary chambers. The word comes from the Latin "bi" (meaning two) and "camera" (meaning chamber). In most cases they have different numbers of members. The smaller legislature is often called the "upper house" or "senate" and the larger is called the "lower house", and sometimes also called by another name such as "assembly" or "commons". For legislation to be passed, bicameral legislatures normally need a majority of members of both chambers to vote for the legislation.

  Countries with a bicameral legislature.

  Countries with a unicameral legislature.

  Countries with a unicameral legislature and an advisory body.

  Countries with no legislature.

Experts sometimes point out that often deadlocks occur in this kind of system. This can make it harder to pass laws. But others point out the checks and balances this system maintains. This prevents laws from being passed that favor a certain political faction, the government or group of people.

Bicameral systems in the world

• In the United Kingdom, the two chambers are called the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
• The United States Congress is bicameral.
  • All the states apart from Nebraska use the bicameral system. Nebraska is unicameral.
• Australia has a bicameral system with a House of Representatives and a Senate. All the Australian states are also bicameral, except Queensland which is unicameral.
• India has bicameral central and state parliaments.

Related pages

• Unicameral