Upper house

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The Upper House is one of the two chambers in a bicameral legislative system, the other being the Lower House. The Upper House is typically considered the senior or more prestigious chamber, often tasked with reviewing and revising legislation proposed by the Lower House. The specific powers and functions of an Upper House can vary significantly between different countries and political systems.

Functions and Powers

The primary functions of an Upper House generally include:

• Legislative Review: The Upper House reviews legislation passed by the Lower House. It may suggest amendments, approve, or reject bills.
• Representation: In many systems, the Upper House represents different constituencies or interests than the Lower House. For example, in federal systems, it may represent the constituent states or regions.
• Checks and Balances: The Upper House serves as a check on the power of the Lower House, preventing hasty or ill-considered legislation.
• Special Powers: Some Upper Houses have unique powers, such as ratifying treaties, confirming appointments, or conducting impeachment trials.

Composition

The composition of an Upper House can vary widely:

• Appointment: Members may be appointed by the head of state, government, or other bodies.
• Election: Members may be directly or indirectly elected by the public or by regional legislatures.
• Hereditary: In some systems, membership may be hereditary, as seen in the House of Lords in the United Kingdom.

Examples of Upper Houses

• United States Senate: The Senate is the Upper House of the United States Congress, with two senators from each state, serving six-year terms.
• House of Lords: The House of Lords is the Upper House of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, with life peers, bishops, and hereditary peers.
• Bundesrat (Germany): The Bundesrat is the Upper House of the German Parliament, representing the federal states.

Differences from Lower House

The Upper House often differs from the Lower House in several key aspects:

• Term Length: Members of the Upper House often serve longer terms than those in the Lower House.
• Representation: The Upper House may represent different constituencies, such as states or regions, rather than population-based districts.
• Powers: The Upper House may have different or more limited powers compared to the Lower House, particularly in initiating financial legislation.

Criticisms and Reforms

Upper Houses have faced criticism for being undemocratic or unrepresentative, particularly when members are appointed rather than elected. Reforms have been proposed or implemented in various countries to address these concerns, such as introducing elections or changing the method of appointment.

Also see

• Bicameralism
• Lower House
• Legislature
• Parliament
• Senate
• House of Lords