Upper house

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L'hémicycle du Sénat français en septembre 2009

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Palazzo-madama-senato

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House of Lords Chamber

New Rajya Sabha chamber in the New Parliament building

Upper house

An upper house, often referred to as a senate, is one of the two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other being the lower house. The upper house typically has different powers and responsibilities compared to the lower house, and its members are often selected through different methods.

Functions and Powers

The primary functions of an upper house can vary significantly between different countries and political systems. Common functions include:

• Reviewing and amending legislation proposed by the lower house.
• Representing different regions or states within a country.
• Providing a check and balance on the powers of the lower house.
• Conducting investigations and inquiries into specific issues.

In some political systems, the upper house has the power to veto or delay legislation, while in others, its role is more advisory.

Membership

The method of selecting members of the upper house can vary widely. Common methods include:

• Direct election by the public.
• Appointment by the head of state or government.
• Election by members of the lower house.
• Hereditary positions, as seen in some traditional monarchies.

The term lengths for members of the upper house also vary, with some serving fixed terms and others serving for life.

Examples of Upper Houses

• The United States Senate is the upper house of the United States Congress.
• The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
• The Senate of Canada is the upper house of the Parliament of Canada.
• The Bundesrat is the upper house of the Parliament of Germany.

Comparison with Lower House

The upper house often differs from the lower house in several key ways:

• Representation: The upper house may represent regions, states, or other entities, while the lower house typically represents the population at large.
• Powers: The upper house may have different legislative powers, such as the ability to review or veto legislation.
• Membership: The method of selecting members and their term lengths can differ significantly between the two houses.

Related Pages

• Bicameralism
• Lower house
• Legislature
• Parliament
• Senate
• House of Lords
• United States Senate
• Bundesrat (Germany)