Upper House - Possible Specific Characteristics

Possible Specific Characteristics

An upper house is usually different from the lower house in at least one of the following respects:

  • It has less power than the lower house.
  • Only limited legislative matters, such as constitutional amendments, require its approval.
  • It is a house of review which cannot initiate or veto legislation, but only consider matters raised by the lower house.
  • It has (in presidential systems) the sole power to try impeachments against the executive, following enabling resolutions passed by the lower house.
  • Its members are often not popularly elected; membership may be indirect, hereditary or by appointment.
  • Its members may be elected with a different voting system to the lower house (for example, upper houses in Australia and its states are usually elected by proportional representation, whereas lower houses are not).
  • Its members represent administrative divisions of a federation.
  • It has fewer seats than the lower house (except for the House of Lords of the United Kingdom).
  • Members' terms are longer than in the lower house, and may be for life.
  • Members are elected in portions, for staggered terms, rather than all at one time.
  • It cannot be dissolved.

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