Unicameralism

Unicameralism is a way that governments make laws. Instead of having two groups to discuss and vote on laws, there is only one group. This group works together to decide what the laws will be.

Many countries around the world use unicameralism. It is used in almost 60% of all national governments. Even more local governments use this system.

Some countries started with two groups and later removed one, like New Zealand and Denmark. Others, like Sweden, combined their two groups into one. Some places were set up this way from the beginning and never had more than one group making laws.

Having one group can make the process of making laws faster and simpler. This system is used in many places because it helps governments work more efficiently.

Rationale for unicameralism and criticism

A unicameral system has one group that makes laws. This makes things simpler and faster. It can also save money because there are fewer buildings and offices to run. Many modern countries like this system because they think it is fairer and works better.

Some people think having two groups that make laws is better. They say it can help stop one group from making too many changes too quickly. But others say there are different ways to make sure rules are fair, like having judges who do not pick sides.

List of unicameral legislatures

About half of the world's countries have legislatures with only one group of lawmakers. The People's Republic of China has a main group and an advisory group that meets together.

Many smaller areas also have single-group legislatures. These include the state of Nebraska and areas like Guam and the Virgin Islands in the United States. Special areas of China such as Hong Kong and Macao, parts of Australia like Queensland, and many areas in Argentina, Canada, Italy, Nepal, Spain, Portugal, India, Nigeria, Brazil, and Germany use this system. In the United Kingdom, groups like the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Senedd, the Northern Ireland Assembly, and the London Assembly also have single groups of lawmakers.

• All legislatures and legislative councils of the regions and communities of Belgium

• All legislative assemblies in all states of Brazil

• All legislative assemblies of the provinces and territories of Canada

• All Landtage of the states of Germany

• All legislative assemblies of the states of Malaysia

• All legislatures in all states of Mexico

• All legislatures of the provinces in Nepal

• All legislatures of the provinces and territories in Pakistan

• The legislature of the state of Nebraska, and council of the District of Columbia in the United States

• The tribal councils of the Five Civilized Tribes in the state of Oklahoma

• Parliament of Queensland and the legislative assemblies of the territories of Australia (but not the other states)

• Provincial legislatures of the provinces of South Africa

• Narodna skupština of Republika Srpska

• 15 of the 23 provinces of Argentina — Chaco, Chubut, Córdoba, Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Misiones, Neuquén, Río Negro, San Juan, Santa Cruz, Santiago del Estero, Tierra del Fuego, Tucumán, and the autonomous city of Buenos Aires.

• 22 of the 28 states and union territories of India — Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal; and 3 of the union territories — Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry.

• Regional councils of France

• Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament

• Regional councils of Italy

• Regional House of Representative councils of Indonesian provinces, regencies, and cities

• Bangsamoro Parliament in Philippines

• Parliaments (variously named Parlamento, Cortes, Junta) of the Autonomous communities of Spain

• City and County Councils of the administrative divisions of Taiwan

• Councils of the oblasts of Ukraine

• Countries of the United Kingdom:

  • Northern Ireland Assembly
  • Scottish Parliament
  • Welsh Senedd

• Local People's Congresses of all levels of provinces, regions, and municipalities of the People's Republic of China

• National Council of the Palestine Liberation Organization

List of historical unicameral legislatures

National

Some countries once had legislatures with just one group of lawmakers. The First Protectorate Parliament and Second Protectorate Parliament of the Kingdom of England were like this, but they ended. The Congress of the Confederation in early United States was one group before it became two groups in 1789. The Provisional Congress of the Confederate States was also one group before it changed in 1862. The Ministry of Dáil Éireann of the Irish Republic was one group during a time of conflict and later changed. The Congress of Deputies of the Second Spanish Republic was one group from 1931 to 1936. The Sejm of Poland under Soviet influence was one group from 1947 to 1989. The Parliament of Uzbekistan was one group until 2005. The National Assembly of Cameroon was one group until 2013. The Chamber of People's Representative of Equatorial Guinea was one group until 2013. The National Assembly of Kenya was one group before it became part of a two-group system in 2013. The National Assembly of the Ivory Coast was one group before it became part of a two-group system in 2016. The Central National Committee and the Provisional People's Representative Council of Indonesia were one group during certain times.

Subnational

Some smaller areas within countries also had one-group legislatures. The General Assembly of Georgia was one group until 1789. The General Assembly of Pennsylvania was one group until 1790. The General Assembly of Vermont was one group until 1836. The Legislature of Nebraska is still a one-group legislature today.

Other

The Assembly of Representatives of the Yishuv community in Mandatory Palestine was one group from 1920 to 1949.

Unicameralism in the Philippines

The Philippines has sometimes used one legislative body instead of two. This happened in 1898 and 1899 during the First Philippine Republic, from 1935 to 1941 during the Commonwealth era, and from 1943 to 1944 during the Japanese occupation. Later, under the 1973 Constitution, the legislative body was called the Batasang Pambansa. It worked as one body in both a parliamentary system and a semi-presidential system.

Today, the Congress of the Philippines has two houses, but many local governments use one house. This includes the Bangsamoro Parliament, Provincial Boards, City Councils, Municipal Councils, Barangay Councils, and Youth Councils. There have been talks about changing the current system to one house, but these changes are hard to make because of how the government works.

Unicameralism in the United States

Three U.S. states and territories have a unicameral legislature: the state of Nebraska, and the territories of Guam and the Virgin Islands.

The Nebraska Legislature, also called the Unicameral, is the main lawmaking group for Nebraska and the only unicameral state legislature in the United States. Its members are called "senators." The legislature is nonpartisan, meaning it does not recognize party affiliations. With 49 members, it is the smallest state legislature in the U.S.

Local government legislatures, like those for counties or cities, are usually unicameral and have less power than state or federal legislatures.