Second Chambers - Theories and Structures

• Author: Gary William O'Brien
• Pages: 19-28

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Second Chambers —

Theories and Structures

Bicameralism is described as of one of the great forms of govern-

ment. Laurence Sterne notes the ancient Germans had the wise cus-

tom of debating everything of importance to their state twice: once

when drunk, and once when sober: “drunk — that their councils

might not want vigour; and sober — that they might not want dis-

cretion.” Its origins can be traced to classical times, as well as to the

idea of the “b alanced constitution” embodied in the Glorious Revo-

lution of . Janet Ajzenstat believes “it remains a fact that the

parliamentary system of che cks and balances, with bicameralism at

its heart, is the world’s greatest political invention.”

“Bicameralism” encompasses ideas and structures. It is essen-

tially a constitutional principle by which power is legally divided.

Bicameral legislative institutions are those whose deliberations

involve two assemblies. It is distinguished from “unicameralism”

by which legislative decisions are taken by a single chamber.

e debate as to whether a political system should have one or

two assemblies is centuries old. e Greek and Roman philosophers

argued the merits of having “mixed” or “simple” government. e

most inf‌luential proponent of bicameralism was Polybius, who felt

the strength of Rome lay in its mixed constitution, in which the

elements — the Consuls, the Senate, and the popular assemblies —