Upper house

The Upper House is one of the two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other being the Lower House. The Upper House is typically seen as the senior or more prestigious chamber, often with different powers and responsibilities compared to the Lower House.

Functions

The primary functions of the Upper House include:

• Reviewing and amending legislation proposed by the Lower House.
• Providing a check on the power of the Lower House and the executive branch.
• Representing different interests, such as regional or state interests, in a federal system.

Composition

The composition of the Upper House varies by country. Members may be elected, appointed, or hold their position by virtue of heredity or other criteria. For example, in the United States, the Upper House is the Senate, where each state is represented by two senators regardless of population.

Powers

The powers of the Upper House can include:

• Approving or rejecting legislation passed by the Lower House.
• Conducting impeachment trials.
• Approving appointments made by the executive, such as judges or cabinet members.

Examples

Some examples of Upper Houses around the world include:

• The United States Senate
• The House of Lords in the United Kingdom
• The Bundesrat in Germany

See also

• Bicameralism
• Legislature
• Parliament

External links

• [Link to relevant external resources]

Upper house gallery

• 
  L'hémicycle du Sénat français en septembre 2009
• Palazzo Madama Senato
  Palazzo Madama Senato
• 
  New Rajya Sabha chamber in the New Parliament building