Lower house
An
lower house is one of two chambers of a
bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the
upper house. In comparison with the upper house, the lower house is usually:
- More powerful.
- Democratically elected (and based on fair apportionment).
- Larger in membership.
The supremacy of the lower house usually arises from special restrictions placed on the powers of the upper house, which often, for example, may only delay rather than veto legislation. Under
parliamentary systems it is usually the lower house alone that designates the
premier or
prime minister, and may remove them through a
vote of no confidence. There are exceptions to this however, such as the Japanese prime minister, who is formally selected with the approval of both houses of the
Diet.
Titles of lower houses
See also: List of national legislatures.