Lower house

A lower house (sometimes known as the first chamber) is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house.

Related Topics:
Bicameral - Legislature - Upper house

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The supremacy of the lower house usually arises from special restrictions placed on the powers of the upper house, which often can only delay rather than veto legislation or has less control over money bills. Under parliamentary systems it is usually the lower house alone that designates the head of government or prime minister, and may remove them through a vote of no confidence. There are exceptions to this however, such as the Prime Minister of Japan, who is formally selected with the approval of both houses of the Diet. A legislature composed of only one house is described as unicameral.

Related Topics:
Money bill - Parliamentary systems - Head of government - Vote of no confidence - Prime Minister of Japan - Diet - Unicameral

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