What is a bicameral legislature?

A bicameral legislature is defined as a lawmaking body with two houses. This structure is designed to provide a system of checks and balances within the legislative process, allowing for more thorough debate and consideration of legislation. In the context of the United States, Congress is a prime example, which consists of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. This two-house system can help to represent different interests and populations, ensuring that a wider range of voices and opinions are heard in the lawmaking process.

In a legislative body structured with two houses, each chamber typically has different powers and responsibilities, and they must work together to pass laws, often requiring agreement from both to ensure that legislation is well-considered and broadly supported. This design is seen as a way to prevent any single group from holding too much power.

The other choices describe different concepts that do not capture the essence of a bicameral legislature. A lawmaking body with one chamber refers to a unicameral system, while a temporary assembly and a system of local government pertain to entirely different organizational frameworks.