ImportMaster at 03:30, 8 April 2022

2022-04-08T03:30:47Z

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{short description|Chamber of a bicameral legislature}}
{{Legislature}}

A '''lower house''' is one of two [[Debate chamber|chambers]] of a [[Bicameralism|bicameral]] [[legislature]], the other chamber being the [[upper house]].<ref>''Bicameralism'' (1997) by George Tsebelis.</ref> Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide, the lower house has come to wield more power or otherwise exert significant political influence. The lower house, typically, is the larger of the two chambers, meaning its members are more numerous.

== Common attributes ==
In comparison with the upper house, lower houses frequently display certain characteristics (though they vary per jurisdiction).

;Powers:
* In a [[parliamentary system]], the lower house:
**In the modern era, has much more power, usually based on restrictions against the upper house.
**Is able to override the upper house in some ways.
**Can vote a [[motion of no confidence]] against the [[government]], as well as vote for or against any proposed candidate for head of government at the beginning of the parliamentary term.
**Exceptions are [[Australia]], where the Senate has considerable power approximate to that of the House of Representatives, and [[Italy]] and [[Romania]], where the Senate has exactly the same powers as the Chamber of Deputies.
* In a [[presidential system]], the lower house:
** Debatably somewhat less, the lower house also has exclusive powers in some areas.
** Has the sole power to impeach the executive (the upper house then tries the [[impeachment]]).
** Typically initiates appropriation/supply-related legislation.

;Status of lower house:
* Always elected directly, while the upper house may be elected directly, indirectly, or not elected at all.
* Its members may be elected with a different voting system to the upper house.
* Most populated [[administrative division]]s are better represented than in the upper house; representation is usually [[proportional representation|proportional to population]].
* [[Election|Elected]] more frequently.
* Elected all at once, not by staggered terms.
* In a parliamentary system, can be dissolved by the executive.
* More members.
* Has total or initial control over budget, supply, and monetary laws.
* Lower [[age of candidacy]] than the upper house.

The government of the day is usually required to present [[Government budget|its budget]] to the lower house, which must approve the budget. It is a widespread practice for revenue (appropriation) bills to originate in the lower house. A notable exception to this is the [[West Virginia House of Delegates]], which allows revenue bills to originate from either house.<ref>{{Cite web|title=West Virginia Constitution|url=http://www.wvlegislature.gov/WVCODE/WV_CON.cfm|access-date=22 February 2021|website=www.wvlegislature.gov}}</ref>

== Titles of lower houses ==
[[File:House of Commons Chamber 1.png|thumb|right|[[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|United Kingdom House of Commons]]]]
[[File:Australian House of Representatives - Parliament of Australia.jpg|right|thumb|[[Australian House of Representatives]]]]

Many lower houses are named in manners such as these:

* [[Chamber of Deputies]]
* [[Chamber of Representatives (disambiguation)|Chamber of Representatives]]
* [[House of Assembly]]
* [[House of Representatives]]
* [[House of Commons]]
* [[Lok Sabha]] of India
* [[House of Delegates (disambiguation)|House of Delegates]]
* [[Legislative Assembly]]
* [[National Assembly]]

== See also ==
* [[Representative democracy]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{National lower houses}}
{{Subject bar|portal1=Law|portal2=Politics|commons=yes|commons-search=Category:Lower houses|wikt=yes|d=yes|d-search=Q375928}}

[[Category:Lower houses| ]]
[[Category:Legislatures]]

Lower house - Revision history

ImportMaster at 03:30, 8 April 2022