Advantages And Disadvantages Of Bicameral Legislature?

To summarize, the main advantages of bicameral legislature is the fact that it should not allow governments to pass laws quickly that are not for the greater benefit of the people and that the secondary line of governance should afford greater protection of the electorate.

Conversely, the main disadvantages of bicameral legislature is that getting effective legislation through both levels of government can prove to be frustrating, slow and inefficient. It is also not the most cost-effective form of governance and there is also the possibility that either level of government can rule in its own self-interest, rather than for the wishes of the electorate.

• What is bicameral legislature?

Bicameral legislature is a form of governance which simply means that there are two levels of government or parliamentary chambers. In the UK, this is the House of Commons and the House of Lords, in the US, this is the Senate and the House of Representatives. Legislation must be passed by both bodies in order to become law.

• What are the advantages of bicameral legislature?

One of the greatest arguments for this form of legislation is the security it affords the populace. Two levels of government, elected in different ways, should mean that more views of the electorate are represented at higher levels. It also means that less than scrupulous governments should not (ideally) be able push through legislation against the will of the people. It also means that vigorous debate on any proposed legislation should mean that any laws passed have been subject to stringent review and revision to make them practical and workable for the benefit of all.

• What are the disadvantages of bicameral legislature?

The main disadvantage often stated against bicameral legislature is the amount of time it takes for legislation to be passed through each chamber to become law. Many people feel that two chambers debating the same topic delays the lawmaking process and is a waste of resources and money and this has led to dissatisfaction with the system. Furthermore, others have complained that in some circumstances, such as the proposal on whether hereditary peers should be allowed in the House of Lords, a bicameral system is ineffective as the House of Lords is unlikely to vote for the abolition of so many of its hereditary members and the benefits that go with that.