bicameralism
Split legislative body
Bicameralism is a system of government in which the legislature is divided into two separate chambers or houses.
In the United States, Congress comprises the Senate and House of Representatives; in the United Kingdom, Parliament has the House of Lords and House of Commons.
The two-chamber structure typically provides checks on legislation and represents different constituencies or interests.
The framers chose bicameralism to balance state and popular representation.
National legislative assembly
- legislatureLawmaking governmental branch
- assemblyConstructing from components
- dietCustomary food consumption
- federalismDivided governmental authority system
constitution · republic · democracy · representation · delegation · oversight · gridlock · accountability
Legislative governing body
- houseResidential building
- lordsMen of high rank
- commonsShared community resources
- dietCustomary food consumption
unicameral · deputies · representatives · senators · peers · delegates
Amount owed, written
- amendmentChange to official text
- reconciliationRestoration of friendly relations
- ping-pongMiniature tennis on table
- originationAct of bringing forth
revision · filibuster · cloture · readings · passage · markup · deadlock · compromise
Balancing mass in machinery
- checkOrder to pay
- reviewCritical written assessment
- revisionAltering to improve
- deliberationCareful weighing of choices
moderation · scrutiny · restraint · refinement · reconsideration · safeguard · stability · tempering
Division into shares
- proportionalScaled to match another
- territorialDefensive about owned space
- regionalRelating to an area
- federalDivided governmental authority
states · provinces · population · malapportionment · gerrymandering · constituencies · districts · electoral
parliament
National legislative assembly
- legislatureLawmaking governmental branch
- assemblyConstructing from components
- dietCustomary food consumption
federalism · constitution · republic · democracy · representation · delegation · oversight · gridlock · accountability
senate
Legislative governing body
diet · unicameral · deputies · representatives · senators · peers · delegates
bill
Amount owed, written
- amendmentChange to official text
- reconciliationRestoration of friendly relations
- ping-pongMiniature tennis on table
origination · revision · filibuster · cloture · readings · passage · markup · deadlock · compromise
counterweight
Balancing mass in machinery
deliberation · moderation · scrutiny · restraint · refinement · reconsideration · safeguard · stability · tempering · measured
apportionment
Division into shares
- proportionalScaled to match another
- territorialDefensive about owned space
- regionalRelating to an area
federal · states · provinces · population · malapportionment · gerrymandering · constituencies · districts · electoral · landed
- democracyvote, voting, election, elections, ballot
- Congresssenator, representative, senators, House, bill
- checks and balanceschecks and balances, separation of powers, veto power, impeachment, congressional oversight
- ConstitutionBill of Rights, preamble, articles, U.S. Constitution, Article I
- governance reformsconstitutional convention, constitutional court, amendment process, bill of rights, checks and balances
- shared powerpower sharing, dual control, joint sovereignty, dual sovereignty, co-management