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
National legislatures refer to the representative bodies or assemblies within a country's political system that have the authority to make laws, debate policies, and oversee government actions.
Related terms
Bicameral legislature: A national legislature consisting of two separate chambers or houses (e.g., Senate and House of Representatives).
Unicameral legislature: A national legislature consisting of only one chamber or house.
Parliamentary sovereignty: The principle that gives the national legislature supreme authority over other branches of government within a parliamentary system.