Bicameralism

Bicameralism is a type of legislature in which the legislators are divided into two separate assemblies, chambers, or houses. The term bicameral is derived from the Latin word bi, meaning "two", and camera, meaning "chamber". Bicameralism is a fundamental aspect of the constitution of a number of countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia.

History

The roots of bicameralism can be traced back to the historical Roman Republic, where the legislative assembly was divided into two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. This system was designed to provide a check on the power of the majority and to ensure that the interests of different sections of society were represented.

Function

In a bicameral system, legislation must be approved by both houses of the legislature before it can become law. This provides a system of checks and balances which is designed to prevent the abuse of power. The two houses may be equal in power, as in the United States, or one may be more powerful than the other, as in the United Kingdom, where the House of Lords has less power than the House of Commons.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages of bicameralism include the potential for more thorough debate and scrutiny of legislation, and the representation of different interests in the two houses. Disadvantages can include potential for deadlock between the two houses, and the possibility that one house may become dominated by a single political party.

Examples

Examples of countries with bicameral legislatures include the United States, where the legislature is divided into the Senate and the House of Representatives; the United Kingdom, where the legislature is divided into the House of Lords and the House of Commons; and Australia, where the legislature is divided into the Senate and the House of Representatives.

File:Bicameralism map.svg

World map showing countries with bicameral legislatures (red) and unicameral legislatures (green)

See also

• Unicameralism
• Tricameralism
• Tetracameralism
• Politics
• Government

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