Types of Legislature

What is a Legislature?

The legislature is one of the three arms of government, along with the executive and judiciary. Its primary function is to make laws that govern the country. In democratic systems, the legislature represents the people and their interests in government.

Members of the legislature are usually elected by citizens through voting. These elected representatives debate important issues, propose new laws, approve government budgets, and oversee the work of the executive branch. The legislature ensures that government actions reflect the will of the people.

In Nigeria, the legislature at the federal level is called the National Assembly. At state level, it is called the State House of Assembly. Local governments also have legislative councils.

Types of Legislature

Based on structure, legislatures worldwide fall into two main categories:

1. Unicameral Legislature

A unicameral legislature has only one chamber or house. The word “unicameral” comes from Latin: “uni” means one, and “camera” means chamber. All members sit together in a single assembly to debate and pass laws.

Features of Unicameral Legislature

• Single chamber: Only one house where all legislators meet
• Simpler structure: Fewer procedural complications since bills pass through only one house
• Faster law-making: Laws can be passed more quickly without needing approval from a second chamber
• Lower cost: Maintaining one chamber is cheaper than two chambers
• Direct representation: Citizens elect members who directly make laws without upper house interference
• Less bureaucracy: Fewer committees and less administrative overhead

Examples of Countries with Unicameral Legislature

• Ghana: Has a single Parliament with 275 members
• Kenya: National Assembly with 349 members
• Israel: The Knesset with 120 members
• New Zealand: House of Representatives with 120 members
• Denmark: The Folketing with 179 members
• Finland: Parliament (Eduskunta) with 200 members
• Sweden: The Riksdag with 349 members

Advantages of Unicameral Legislature

1. Cost-effective: Government spends less money paying salaries and maintaining only one chamber instead of two. This is important for developing countries with limited resources.
2. Faster decision-making: Bills become law more quickly since they don’t need approval from a second chamber. This is useful during emergencies.
3. Less confusion: With one chamber, it is clear who is responsible for decisions. Citizens know whom to hold accountable.
4. Prevents deadlock: Two chambers can disagree and block each other. Unicameral systems avoid this problem.
5. More efficient: Resources and time are not wasted reconciling differences between two houses.
6. Better for small countries: Countries with small populations don’t need two chambers to represent their citizens.

Disadvantages of Unicameral Legislature

1. Risk of hasty decisions: Without a second chamber to review laws, mistakes can be made in rushing legislation.
2. Less checks and balances: A single chamber can pass bad laws without another house stopping them.
3. Tyranny of majority: The majority party can easily dominate and ignore minority opinions without upper house protection.
4. Limited representation: Large countries with diverse populations may not be fully represented in one chamber.
5. Easier to manipulate: Corrupt leaders can more easily control one chamber than two.

2. Bicameral Legislature

A bicameral legislature has two chambers or houses. The word “bicameral” comes from Latin: “bi” means two, and “camera” means chamber. Laws must pass through both chambers before becoming effective.

The two chambers usually have different names, sizes, and functions. Commonly, one chamber is called the Upper House and the other is called the Lower House.

Features of Bicameral Legislature

• Two chambers: Legislature divided into upper and lower houses
• Different composition: Each house has different number of members and may represent different interests
• Double scrutiny: Bills must pass through both houses for approval
• Higher cost: More expensive to maintain two chambers with separate staff and facilities
• Slower process: Law-making takes longer as both houses must agree
• Better checks: Each house can review and correct the other’s work

Examples of Countries with Bicameral Legislature

• Nigeria: Senate (109 members) and House of Representatives (360 members) form the National Assembly
• United States: Senate (100 members) and House of Representatives (435 members) form Congress
• United Kingdom: House of Lords and House of Commons form Parliament
• India: Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and Lok Sabha (House of the People)
• South Africa: National Council of Provinces and National Assembly
• Australia: Senate and House of Representatives
• Germany: Bundesrat (Federal Council) and Bundestag (Federal Parliament)

Advantages of Bicameral Legislature

1. Better scrutiny of bills: Laws are examined twice by different groups of people, reducing errors and improving quality.
2. Stronger checks and balances: Each house can prevent the other from passing bad laws or abusing power.
3. Protects minority interests: The upper house often gives smaller states or regions equal representation, protecting them from domination by larger states.
4. Prevents hasty legislation: The requirement for two approvals slows down the process, allowing time for careful consideration.
5. Diverse representation: Different chambers can represent different interests (e.g., one for states, one for population).
6. Discourages dictatorship: Harder for one party or person to control two chambers than one.
7. Encourages debate: Issues are discussed from multiple perspectives in different houses.
8. Better for federal systems: Federal countries like Nigeria need bicameral systems to represent both national and state interests.

Disadvantages of Bicameral Legislature

1. Expensive: Maintaining two chambers costs much more than one. Government must pay more salaries, provide more offices, and hire more staff.
2. Slow decision-making: Bills take longer to pass since both chambers must agree. This can be problematic during emergencies.
3. Legislative deadlock: When the two houses disagree, important laws can be blocked indefinitely.
4. Duplication of work: Both chambers often debate the same issues, wasting time and resources.
5. Confusion and complexity: Citizens may not understand which chamber does what, making accountability difficult.
6. Political games: Politicians can shift blame between houses, avoiding responsibility.

Comparison of Unicameral and Bicameral Legislatures

The Nigerian Bicameral System

Nigeria operates a bicameral legislature at the federal level called the National Assembly. It consists of:

The Senate (Upper House)

• Total members: 109 senators
• Representation: Three senators from each of the 36 states, plus one from the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja)
• Term: Four years
• Leader: Senate President
• Purpose: Represents states equally, ensuring no state dominates others

House of Representatives (Lower House)

• Total members: 360 members
• Representation: Based on population; states with more people have more representatives
• Term: Four years
• Leader: Speaker of the House
• Purpose: Represents the people directly based on their numbers

How Nigerian Bicameral System Works

For a bill to become law in Nigeria:

1. A member of either the Senate or House of Representatives proposes the bill
2. The bill is debated in the chamber where it was introduced
3. If approved, it moves to the other chamber for debate and approval
4. If both chambers pass the bill, it goes to the President for assent
5. The President can sign it into law or veto it
6. If vetoed, the National Assembly can override the veto with a two-thirds majority in both chambers

This system ensures that laws reflect both the interests of states (through the Senate) and the interests of the people (through the House of Representatives).

Why Nigeria Chose Bicameral Legislature

Nigeria adopted a bicameral system for several important reasons:

1. Federal structure: Nigeria is a federal state with 36 states. The Senate gives each state equal voice regardless of size.
2. Ethnic diversity: With over 250 ethnic groups, having two chambers helps ensure minority groups are not ignored.
3. Large population: Nigeria has over 200 million people. Two chambers provide better representation than one.
4. Checks against dictatorship: After military rule, Nigeria wanted strong checks and balances to prevent power abuse.
5. American model: Nigeria’s constitution was influenced by the United States, which uses a successful bicameral system.

Factors That Determine Legislative Type

Countries choose between unicameral and bicameral systems based on:

• Size of country: Larger countries often prefer bicameral systems for better representation
• Population: More populous countries may need two chambers to represent diverse interests
• Government structure: Federal systems usually need bicameral; unitary systems can use either
• Historical factors: Colonial history and past governance systems influence the choice
• Economic resources: Wealthier countries can afford bicameral systems more easily
• Cultural diversity: Diverse societies often choose bicameral to protect minority rights
• Political stability: Stable democracies may prefer checks of bicameral system

Can a Country Change Its Legislative Type?

Yes, countries can change from unicameral to bicameral or vice versa through constitutional amendment. However, this is rare because it requires broad political agreement and can be costly to implement.

Examples of changes:

• New Zealand abolished its upper house in 1950, moving from bicameral to unicameral
• Denmark abolished its upper house in 1953, becoming unicameral
• Sweden became unicameral in 1971 after being bicameral

Some countries have debated changing but decided against it due to the benefits of their current system.

Common Exam Mistakes

Practice Questions

Multiple Choice Questions

1. A legislature with only one chamber is called:
a) Bicameral legislature
b) Unicameral legislature ✓
c) Tricameral legislature
d) Multicameral legislature

2. Which of the following countries operates a unicameral legislature?
a) Nigeria
b) United States
c) Ghana ✓
d) India

3. The Nigerian Senate has how many members?
a) 36 members
b) 109 members ✓
c) 360 members
d) 469 members

4. Which is NOT an advantage of bicameral legislature?
a) Better scrutiny of bills
b) Stronger checks and balances
c) Faster law-making process ✓
d) Protection of minority interests

5. The Nigerian House of Representatives has:
a) 36 members
b) 109 members
c) 360 members ✓
d) 469 members

6. Bicameral legislature is most suitable for:
a) Small unitary states
b) Large federal states ✓
c) Military governments
d) Monarchies only

Essay Questions

1. Define legislature and distinguish between unicameral and bicameral legislature, giving TWO examples of each. (10 marks)

Tip: Define legislature clearly (2 marks). Explain unicameral with features (2 marks) and give two examples (1 mark). Explain bicameral with features (2 marks) and give two examples (1 mark). Highlight key differences (2 marks).

2. Discuss FIVE advantages and FIVE disadvantages of bicameral legislature. (15 marks)

Tip: State each advantage clearly and explain it fully with examples (1.5 marks each for 5 advantages). Do the same for disadvantages (1.5 marks each for 5 disadvantages). Don’t just list—explain WHY each is an advantage or disadvantage.

3. Explain FOUR reasons why Nigeria operates a bicameral legislature. (8 marks)

Tip: Each reason should be clearly stated and fully explained with reference to Nigeria’s specific situation (2 marks each). Link reasons to Nigeria’s federal structure, diversity, and democratic goals.

4. Describe the composition and functions of the Nigerian National Assembly. (12 marks)

Tip: Describe Senate composition and representation (3 marks). Describe House of Representatives composition and representation (3 marks). Explain how both chambers work together (3 marks). List key functions of the National Assembly (3 marks).

Memory Aids

Unicameral advantages – FACED:
Faster decisions
Affordable/cheap
Clear accountability
Efficient process
Deadlock avoided

Bicameral advantages – SCOPED:
Scrutiny enhanced
Checks and balances
Oversight improved
Protects minorities
Encourages debate
Dictators discouraged

Nigeria’s National Assembly numbers:
Senate: Think “10-9” = 109 (three per state + FCT)
House: Think “360 degrees” = 360 members (full circle of representation)

Unicameral countries (GKI NDF):
Ghana
Kenya
Israel
New Zealand
Denmark
Finland

Related Topics

• Functions of the Legislature
• Separation of Powers in Government
• The Law-Making Process
• Federal System of Government
• Unitary System of Government
• Checks and Balances in Democracy
• Structure of Nigerian Government