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Difficulty: EasyThe Legislature: Unicameralism and Bicameralism

In constitutional governance, what is a primary structural disadvantage associated with operating a bicameral legislature?

  1. It frequently leads to legislative delays and heavy financial costsAnswer
  2. B
    It removes the authority of the judiciary to conduct judicial review
  3. C
    It concentrates all legislative power within a single assembly
  4. D
    It shifts legal sovereignty directly from parliament to the electorate

Answer

The primary disadvantage of a bicameral legislature is that it frequently leads to legislative delays and heavy financial costs.
Bicameral legislatures consist of two distinct legislative chambers. Because bills must be considered, debated, and passed separately by both houses, the legislative process is inherently slower and more expensive to run compared to a single-chamber system.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the defining features of a bicameral legislature
A bicameral system consists of two legislative houses (such as a Senate and a House of Representatives).
Understanding the structure is essential to evaluating its operational consequences.
2
Analyze the operational drawbacks of maintaining two houses
Bills must pass through duplicate readings and committee stages in both chambers, causing legislative delays, and funding two distinct bodies requires high public expenditure.
Bicameralism intentionally slows down law-making for thorough scrutiny, which creates delays and high costs.

Key Concept

Disadvantages of Bicameralism
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Topics

The Legislature: Unicameralism and Bicameralism

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