Lower house

Legislature
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For the demesne in The Keys to the Kingdom series, see The House

A lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house.^[1]

Inside the Australian House of Representatives

Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide the lower house has come to wield more power.

Common attributes [edit]

In comparison with the upper house, lower houses frequently display certain characteristics:

In a parliamentary system
- Much more power, usually based on restrictions against the upper house
- Able to override the upper house in some ways
- Has total or original control over budget and monetary laws
- Can vote a motion of no confidence against the government
In a presidential system:
- Little less power, as the upper house give alone advice and consent to some executives decisions (e.g. appointments)
- Given the sole power to impeach the executive (the upper house then tries the impeachment)

Always directly elected, while the upper house may be elected indirectly, or not elected at all
Its members may be elected with a different voting system to the upper house.
Most populated administrative divisions are better represented than in the upper house; representation is usually proportional to population.
Elected more frequently
Elected all at once, not by staggered terms
In a parliamentary system, can be dissolved by the executive
More members (except in the UK)
Lower age of candidacy than the upper house

Many lower houses are named in the following manner: House/Chamber of Representatives/the People/Commons/Deputies.