BICAMERAL LEGISLATURE: This is a legislative arm of government that consists of two houses or chambers – the upper house and the lower house. Each house has different functions and both must pass a bill before it becomes law.
Structure of Bicameral Legislature
| Country | Upper House | Lower House |
|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | Senate (109 members) | House of Representatives (360 members) |
| USA | Senate (100 members) | House of Representatives (435 members) |
| United Kingdom | House of Lords | House of Commons |
Features of Bicameral Legislature
- Two separate chambers: Has both upper and lower houses that sit separately.
- Different composition: Each house usually has different membership requirements and sizes.
- Bills pass through both houses: A bill must be approved by both chambers before becoming law.
- Checks and balances: Each house checks the activities of the other.
- Representation of interests: Upper house often represents states/regions; lower house represents population.
Examples of Countries with Bicameral Legislature
- Nigeria (Senate and House of Representatives)
- United States of America
- United Kingdom
- India
- Australia
- Canada
WAEC Tip: “Bi” means two, so bicameral means two chambers. “Uni” means one, so unicameral means one chamber. Nigeria practices bicameralism at the federal level but unicameralism at state level (only State House of Assembly).