Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A bicameral house refers to a legislature that consists of two separate chambers or houses. Each chamber has its own members and functions within the legislative process.
Related terms
Unicameral house: Unicameral means having only one chamber or house in the legislature.
Upper house: The upper house is typically one of the chambers in a bicameral legislature with distinct powers and functions compared to the lower house.
Lower House: The lower house is another name for one of the chambers in a bicameral legislature with different characteristics from the upper house.