Export your learner materials as an interactive game, a webpage, or FAQ style cheatsheet.
Unsaved Work Found!
It looks like you have unsaved work from a previous session. Would you like to restore it?
Total Categories: 6
An upper house is typically larger in membership and possesses more power than a lower house.
Answer: False
Contrary to the statement, an upper house is generally characterized by a smaller membership and often possesses more restricted powers compared to its lower house counterpart.
A legislature composed of only one house is known as bicameral.
Answer: False
A legislature consisting of a single house is termed unicameral, whereas a bicameral system denotes a legislative body with two distinct chambers.
What is an upper house in the context of a legislature?
Answer: One of two chambers that constitute a bicameral legislature.
How does an upper house typically compare to a lower house in terms of its membership and power?
Answer: It is generally smaller in membership and often possesses more restricted power.
What term describes a legislative body that consists of only one house?
Answer: Unicameral
The English Parliament clearly separated into two distinct chambers, the House of Lords and the House of Commons, around 1341.
Answer: True
Historical records indicate that the English Parliament formally bifurcated into the House of Lords and the House of Commons approximately in 1341, during the reign of King Edward III.
Spain's bicameral system began to evolve with the adoption of the Bayonne Statute in 1808, and its upper house was named the Senate with the constitution of 1837.
Answer: True
Spain's bicameral legislative structure indeed commenced its evolution with the Bayonne Statute in 1808, and the upper chamber was formally designated as the Senate under the constitution of 1837.
Portugal's Chamber of Most Worthy Peers, established in 1826, had its 90 members elected by popular vote.
Answer: False
The 90 members of Portugal's Chamber of Most Worthy Peers, established in 1826, were not popularly elected but were instead nominated by the monarch.
After gaining independence in 1831, Belgium's Senate members were entirely appointed by the king.
Answer: False
Following its independence in 1831, Belgium's Senate members were selected through a hybrid system, involving both royal appointment and election by local authorities, not solely by the king.
Imperial Japan's House of Peers, established with the Meiji Constitution in 1889, was modeled after the British House of Lords.
Answer: False
Imperial Japan's House of Peers, instituted by the Meiji Constitution in 1889, was modeled after the Prussian House of Lords, not the British House of Lords.
With the 1947 constitution, Japan's House of Peers was replaced by the House of Councillors, modeled after the United States Senate.
Answer: True
The 1947 Japanese constitution indeed replaced the Imperial House of Peers with the House of Councillors, which was designed with the United States Senate as its structural model.
Which historical body is identified as the first upper house of a bicameral legislature as understood today?
Answer: The medieval House of Lords in England.
Around what year did the English Parliament clearly separate into the House of Lords and the House of Commons?
Answer: 1341
In Spain, when did Queen Maria Christina establish the House of Peers, which was later named the Senate?
Answer: 1834
How were the 90 members of Portugal's Chamber of Most Worthy Peers chosen when it was established in 1826?
Answer: They were nominated by the monarch.
After gaining independence in 1831, how were members of Belgium's Senate chosen?
Answer: Through a mixed system of royal appointment and local election.
What replaced Imperial Japan's House of Peers with the adoption of the 1947 constitution?
Answer: The House of Councillors.
In a parliamentary system, an upper house typically holds significantly more power than the lower house, especially regarding fiscal policy.
Answer: False
In parliamentary systems, an upper house generally possesses substantially less power than the lower house, particularly concerning fiscal policy, which is typically the exclusive domain of the lower chamber.
An upper house in a parliamentary system generally cannot vote a motion of no confidence against the government.
Answer: True
In parliamentary systems, the authority to initiate or vote on a motion of no confidence against the government is typically reserved for the lower house, making such actions rare or impossible for the upper house.
In a presidential system, an upper house may have equal or nearly equal power with the lower house.
Answer: True
In contrast to parliamentary systems, an upper house within a presidential framework often holds powers that are equal or nearly equal to those of the lower house, and may possess distinct responsibilities.
Unique powers of an upper house in a presidential system include the sole power to ratify treaties and try impeachment cases.
Answer: True
In a presidential system, an upper house frequently holds unique powers, such as the exclusive authority to ratify international treaties and to conduct impeachment trials initiated by the lower house.
In a semi-presidential system like France, the Government cannot legislate normal laws without the Senate's agreement.
Answer: False
In a semi-presidential system such as France, the Government retains the capacity to legislate normal laws even without the explicit agreement of the Senate, as stipulated by Article 45 of the constitution.
In parliamentary systems, the upper house's primary function is often described as a 'house of review' to scrutinize legislation.
Answer: True
The upper house in parliamentary systems frequently functions as a 'house of review,' primarily tasked with scrutinizing legislation passed by the lower house and proposing amendments to enhance its quality.
The Italian Senate exemplifies 'perfect bicameralism' because it possesses the same powers as its lower counterpart.
Answer: True
The Italian Senate is a prime example of 'perfect bicameralism,' as it holds legislative powers identical to those of the Chamber of Deputies, requiring mutual consent for legislation and government formation.
Under the Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949, the British House of Lords gained the power to prevent the passage of all bills indefinitely.
Answer: False
The Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949 significantly curtailed the British House of Lords' power, limiting its ability to delay most bills to a maximum of one year, and money bills to one month, rather than granting indefinite veto power.
The British House of Lords is sometimes seen as having a special role in safeguarding the uncodified UK Constitution and civil liberties.
Answer: True
Beyond its legislative review function, the British House of Lords is often regarded as having a crucial role in protecting the uncodified Constitution of the United Kingdom and upholding civil liberties against potentially hasty legislative changes.
An upper house without an absolute veto has no means to influence legislation.
Answer: False
Even without an absolute veto, an upper house can significantly influence legislation by delaying bills, prompting reconsideration by the lower chamber, or causing controversial measures to be abandoned.
In recent times, there has been a general trend in parliamentary systems to strengthen the powers of upper houses.
Answer: False
The prevailing trend in contemporary parliamentary systems has been a weakening of upper house powers relative to their lower counterparts, with some even facing abolition or reduced legislative authority.
Upper houses in parliamentary systems typically have less power over secondary or delegated legislation than over primary legislation.
Answer: False
While generally subordinate regarding primary legislation, upper houses in parliamentary systems may possess greater power, including the capacity to fully veto, secondary or delegated legislation, which are laws made by executive bodies.
In a parliamentary system, which of the following legislative matters is an upper house typically limited to voting on?
Answer: Constitutional amendments.
What is a key difference in power for an upper house in a presidential system compared to a parliamentary system?
Answer: It may have equal or nearly equal power with the lower house.
Which of the following is a unique power an upper house might possess in a presidential system?
Answer: The sole power to ratify treaties.
In a semi-presidential system like France, what is true regarding the Senate's power over normal laws?
Answer: The Government can legislate normal laws without the Senate's agreement.
In parliamentary systems, what is the primary function of an upper house, often described as a 'house of review'?
Answer: To scrutinize legislation and suggest amendments.
Which country's Senate is an example of 'perfect bicameralism' in a parliamentary system?
Answer: The Italian Senate.
How do the Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949 affect the British House of Lords' power over most bills?
Answer: They limited the House of Lords' ability to prevent passage, allowing only a delay of up to one year for most bills.
What special role is sometimes attributed to the British House of Lords regarding the UK Constitution?
Answer: Safeguarding the uncodified Constitution and civil liberties.
Besides a formal veto, how can an upper house in a parliamentary system influence legislation?
Answer: By providing the lower chamber an opportunity to reconsider or abandon a controversial measure.
What has been the general trend regarding the powers of upper houses in parliamentary systems in recent times?
Answer: A general trend to weaken their powers relative to lower counterparts.
Regarding secondary or delegated legislation, what power might upper houses in parliamentary systems possess?
Answer: They may possess greater power, including the capacity to fully veto it.
Members of an upper house are always popularly elected in most countries.
Answer: False
Membership in an upper house is not universally determined by popular election; in many nations, members are selected through indirect election, ex officio appointments, or direct appointment.
Upper houses in Australia and its states are typically elected by proportional representation, while lower houses usually are not.
Answer: True
In Australia, upper houses at both federal and state levels commonly employ proportional representation for elections, a method that often contrasts with the simple majority systems used for lower house elections.
In some bicameral systems, less populated regions may receive better representation in the lower house than in the upper house.
Answer: False
In many bicameral systems, less populated regions are often granted disproportionately better representation in the upper house to ensure their voice is heard, balancing the population-based representation of the lower house.
Members of an upper house often have shorter terms than those in the lower house and are always elected all at once.
Answer: False
Members of an upper house typically serve longer terms than their lower house counterparts, and their elections are frequently staggered, with only a portion of members elected at any given time, rather than all at once.
The British House of Lords is an exception to the general rule that an upper house has fewer members than the lower house.
Answer: True
The British House of Lords is indeed an exception to the general principle, as it possesses a larger membership than the House of Commons, which is the lower house of the UK Parliament.
An upper house usually has a lower age of candidacy requirement than the lower house.
Answer: False
Typically, an upper house imposes a higher age requirement for candidacy compared to the lower house, reflecting an expectation of greater experience or maturity among its members.
The 1999 constitutional standoff between the Labour Government and the House of Lords resulted in the complete expulsion of all hereditary peers.
Answer: False
The 1999 constitutional dispute between the Labour Government and the House of Lords did not lead to the complete expulsion of all hereditary peers; instead, the Weatherill Amendment preserved 92 hereditary peers within the chamber.
Members of the Canadian Senate are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister.
Answer: True
The members of the Canadian Senate are indeed appointed by the Governor General, acting on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, a system designed to ensure diverse representation and expertise.
The British House of Lords and the Japanese House of Peers both had entirely hereditary seats until the late 20th century.
Answer: False
While the British House of Lords retained hereditary seats until 1999, the Japanese House of Peers, which also had hereditary members, was abolished in 1947, making the statement that *both* had entirely hereditary seats until the late 20th century inaccurate.
All members of India's Rajya Sabha are nominated by the President of India.
Answer: False
The Rajya Sabha, India's upper house, primarily consists of members nominated by various states and union territories, with only 12 members nominated by the President of India.
Before the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, members of the United States Senate were chosen by state legislatures.
Answer: True
Prior to the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, United States Senators were indirectly elected by state legislatures, rather than through direct popular vote.
The senates of Australia, Brazil, and the United States demonstrate disproportionate representation by allocating a fixed number of members from each state, regardless of the state's population.
Answer: True
The senates of Australia, Brazil, and the United States exemplify disproportionate representation by assigning an equal, fixed number of elected members to each state, irrespective of its population size, thereby ensuring regional equity.
Beyond popular election, how do members of an upper house typically gain their positions in many countries?
Answer: Through indirect election, ex officio, or appointment.
How are upper houses in Australia and its states typically elected, differing from their lower houses?
Answer: By proportional representation.
In some bicameral systems, how is representation structured concerning less populated regions in the upper house?
Answer: They receive better representation than in the lower house.
What is a common characteristic of term lengths for members of an upper house?
Answer: They often have longer terms, and may be elected in portions for staggered terms.
Which country's parliament is cited as an exception where the upper house has a larger membership than the lower house?
Answer: The United Kingdom.
What is the usual age requirement for candidacy in an upper house compared to a lower house?
Answer: It is usually higher.
What was the outcome of the 1999 constitutional standoff between the Labour Government and the House of Lords regarding hereditary peers?
Answer: The Weatherill Amendment preserved 92 hereditary peers in the chamber.
How are members of the Canadian Senate chosen?
Answer: They are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister.
Which of the following had entirely hereditary seats until 1947?
Answer: The Japanese House of Peers.
How are members of the Rajya Sabha in India primarily selected?
Answer: Primarily nominated by various states and union territories.
Before the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, how were members of the United States Senate chosen?
Answer: By state legislatures.
The senates of Australia, Brazil, and the United States demonstrate disproportionate representation by doing what?
Answer: Allocating a fixed number of elected members from each state, regardless of population.
Nebraska is the only US state with a unicameral legislature, achieved by abolishing its upper house in 1934.
Answer: False
Nebraska is indeed the sole U.S. state with a unicameral legislature, but this was achieved by abolishing its *lower* house in 1934, not its upper house.
Queensland's Legislative Council, its upper house, was abolished in 1922, making the state unicameral.
Answer: True
Queensland, an Australian state, transitioned to a unicameral system in 1922 following the abolition of its appointed Legislative Council, which served as its upper house.
The Senate of the Philippines was abolished from 1972 to 1987 and then re-instituted with a new constitution in 1987.
Answer: True
The Senate of the Philippines experienced periods of abolition, notably from 1972 to 1987, before being re-established as part of a bicameral Congress under the 1987 constitution.
In a referendum, the Irish public voted to abolish the Seanad Éireann, with Fianna Fáil being the only major party to support its retention.
Answer: False
The Irish public, in a referendum, voted by a narrow margin to *retain* the Seanad Éireann, contrary to the statement, with Fianna Fáil being the only major party advocating for its retention.
Which of the following countries is listed as having abolished its upper house to adopt a unicameral system?
Answer: New Zealand.
How did Nebraska become the only US state with a unicameral legislature?
Answer: It abolished its lower house in 1934.
When was Queensland's Legislative Council, its upper house, abolished?
Answer: 1922
The Senate of the Philippines was abolished and re-instituted during which two periods?
Answer: 1935-1945 and 1972-1987.
What was the outcome of the Irish referendum on abolishing the Seanad Éireann?
Answer: The public voted by a narrow margin to retain it.
The most common title for an upper house globally is 'Legislative Council'.
Answer: False
The most prevalent title for an upper house worldwide is 'Senate,' rather than 'Legislative Council,' which is used in specific jurisdictions.
Germany and Austria use the title 'Federal Council' (Bundesrat) for their upper houses.
Answer: True
Both Germany and Austria designate their upper legislative chambers as the 'Federal Council,' known as Bundesrat in German, reflecting their federal structures.
The 'Council of States' is the title for the upper house in Switzerland and India.
Answer: True
The title 'Council of States' is indeed employed for the upper houses in both Switzerland and India, emphasizing their role in representing constituent states or cantons.
The unique title for the upper house in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 'Dom naroda,' translates to 'House of Elders.'
Answer: False
The unique title for Bosnia and Herzegovina's upper house, 'Dom naroda,' translates to 'House of Peoples,' not 'House of Elders.'
Japan's upper house, 'Sangiin,' translates to 'House of Representatives.'
Answer: False
Japan's upper house, 'Sangiin,' translates to 'House of Councillors,' distinguishing it from the 'House of Representatives,' which is the lower chamber.
The 'Golaha Guurtida' in Somaliland translates to 'House of Elders.'
Answer: True
In Somaliland, the upper house is known as the 'Golaha Guurtida,' which accurately translates to 'House of Elders,' signifying a body of respected, experienced individuals.
Thailand's upper house, 'Wutthisapha,' translates to 'Senior Council' or 'Senate.'
Answer: True
Thailand's upper house, 'Wutthisapha,' is correctly translated as 'Senior Council' or 'Senate,' indicating a chamber composed of senior or experienced members.
What is the most common title for an upper house globally?
Answer: Senate.
Which countries use the title 'Federal Council' (Bundesrat) for their upper houses?
Answer: Germany and Austria.
The 'Council of States' is the title for the upper house in which two countries?
Answer: Switzerland and India.
What is the English translation of Bosnia and Herzegovina's upper house title, 'Dom naroda'?
Answer: House of Peoples.
What is the English translation for Japan's upper house, 'Sangiin'?
Answer: House of Councillors.
The 'Golaha Guurtida' is the unique title for the upper house in which country?
Answer: Somaliland.
What is the English translation for Thailand's upper house, 'Wutthisapha'?
Answer: Senior Council or Senate.