Lower house

A lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house.^[1]

Inside the Australian House of Representatives

Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide, the lower house has come to wield more power.

A legislature composed of only one house is described as unicameral.

Common attributes

In comparison with the upper house, lower houses frequently display certain characteristics:

Powers

• In a parliamentary system:
  • Much more power, usually based on restrictions against the upper house.
  • Able to override the upper house in some ways.
  • Can vote a motion of no confidence against the government.
• In a presidential system:
  • Little less power, as the upper house alone gives advice and consent to some executives decisions (e.g. appointments).
  • Given the sole power to impeach the executive (the upper house then tries the impeachment)

Status

• Always elected directly, while the upper house may be elected indirectly, or not elected at all.
• Its members may be elected with a different voting system to the upper house.
• Most populated administrative divisions are better represented than in the upper house; representation is usually proportional to population.
• Elected more frequently.
• Elected all at once, not by staggered terms.
• In a parliamentary system, can be dissolved by the executive.
• More members (except in the UK).
• Has total or original control over budget and monetary laws.
• Lower age of candidacy than the upper house.

Titles of lower houses

Common names

Dáil Éireann, Republic of Ireland

Many lower houses are named in the following manner: House/Chamber of Representatives/the People/Commons/Deputies.

• Chamber of Deputies
• Chamber of Representatives
• House of Assembly
• House of Representatives
• House of Commons
• Legislative Assembly
• National Assembly

Unique Names

• Lok Sabha (India)
• Dáil Éireann (Ireland)
• Dewan Rakyat (Malaysia)
• Congress of Deputies (Spain)
• Mazhilis (Kazakhstan)
• House of Keys (Isle of Man)
• Sejm (Republic of Poland) (not to be confused with the Great Sejm)
• State Duma (Russia)

See also

• Representative democracy
• List of national legislatures
• Upper house

Notes and references