legislature

views updated

legislature Representative assembly whose primary function is the enactment of laws. Legislatures can be either unicameral or bicameral (composed of one or two chambers). In most democracies, including Britain, the ‘Lower’ or more directly elected chamber is more powerful than the ‘Upper’ chamber filled by government appointees or hereditary members. In the USA, the Senate is constitutionally more powerful than the House of Representatives, and both Houses are elected. See also House of Commons; House of Lords; Parliament

More From encyclopedia.com

About this article

legislature

Updated About encyclopedia.com content Print Article

Related Content

NEARBY TERMS

legislature