Give reasons for the adoption of bicameral legislature by some countries

Answer Details

Reasons for the adoption of a bicameral legislature by some countries

1. Prevention of hasty legislation: The existence of two chambers ensures that bills are debated twice, allowing errors to be corrected and preventing rash or ill-considered laws.
2. Federal representation: In federal states, the second chamber (e.g. the Senate) gives equal representation to the component units regardless of size, protecting the interests of the smaller states.
3. Checks and balances within the legislature: The two houses check each other, guarding against the abuse of legislative power and the tyranny of a single all-powerful chamber.
4. Wider and better representation: Two chambers allow for the representation of different interests, groups and sections of society, giving a broader base to the legislature.
5. Revising role of the second chamber: The upper house acts as a revising body, giving a second, more careful look at legislation passed by the lower house.
6. Reduction of workload: The volume of legislative work is shared between the two houses, making law-making more thorough.
7. Protection of minority interests: The second chamber can serve as a forum to protect the interests of minorities and special groups.
8. Room for experience and expertise: The upper house can accommodate experienced elder statesmen and experts whose wisdom improves the quality of legislation.