Lower house

A lower house is the lower chamber of a bicameral legislature, where the other chamber is the upper house. Although formally styled as "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide, the lower house has come to wield more power or otherwise exert significant political influence.

Common attributes

In comparison with the upper house, lower houses frequently display certain characteristics (though they vary by jurisdiction).

Powers

In a parliamentary system, the lower house:

• In the modern era, has much more power, usually due to restrictions on the upper house.
  • Exceptions to this are Australia, Italy, and Romania, where the upper and lower houses have similar power.
• Is able to override the upper house in some ways.
• Can vote a motion of no confidence against the government, as well as vote for or against any proposed candidate for head of government at the beginning of the parliamentary term.

In a presidential system, the lower house:

• Generally has less power than the upper house, but maintains exclusive powers in some areas.
• Has the sole power to impeach the executive; the upper house then tries the impeachment.
• Typically initiates legislation on appropriation and supply.

Status

The lower house:

• Can, in a parliamentary system, be dissolved by the executive.
• Has total or initial control over budget, supply, and monetary laws.
• Has a lower age of candidacy than the upper house.
• Is more numerous than the upper house.
  • The Parliament of the United Kingdom furnishes a notable exception.

Members of the lower house:

• Are elected directly, while those of the upper house may hold their positions through direct or indirect election, appointment, or inheritance.
• Are elected more frequently, and all at once, not by staggered terms.
• Are usually numbered in proportion to the population of their administrative divisions, unlike in the upper house.

The government of the day is usually required to present its budget to the lower house, which must approve the budget. It is a widespread practice for revenue (appropriation) bills to originate in the lower house. A notable exception to this is the West Virginia House of Delegates in the United States, which allows revenue bills to originate from either house.

Titles of lower houses

Many lower houses are named in manners such as follows:

• Chamber of Deputies
• Chamber of Representatives
• House of Assembly
• House of Commons
• House of Delegates
• House of the People (including Lok Sabha)
• House of Representatives
• Legislative Assembly
• National Assembly
• National Council
• Sejm/Seimas

See also

• Representative democracy