From the Introduction:
Countries across the world have, at one time or another, wrestled with the question of how to design political institutions that best support an open, stable and prosperous society governed by the rule of law. The results of these debates are generally reflected in a country's constitution, in which citizens establish their governing institutions. Legislative institutions, in particular, are an area in which countries have a variety of choices. How should legislators be selected? What powers should be attributed to the legislature? These are only some of the issues that require resolution before a legislative body can act. An additional key decision concerns the structure of the legislature itself: should the country adopt one legislative chamber (unicameral) or two (bicameral)?
While the question of cameral selection is not easily resolved, experience over the last century has helped to reveal the strengths and weaknesses of each model. Although historical, cultural and ultimately political factors specific to a particular country will influence this decision, the experience of other countries provides a useful basis on which to determine whether a bicameral or unicameral model better serves the current needs and future goals of that country. This paper identifies some of the central characteristics of bicameral and unicameral legislatures, and offers evidence as to why countries may have chosen one model over the other. To further illustrate the two models, several specific bicameral and unicameral legislative systems are reviewed in some detail.
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