A lower house is the lower chamber of a bicamerallegislature, where second chamber is the upper house.[1] Although formally styled as "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide, the lower house has come to wield more power or otherwise exert significant political influence. The lower house is typically the more numerous of the two chambers.
Common attributes
In comparison with the upper house, lower houses frequently display certain characteristics (though they vary per jurisdiction).
In the modern era, has much more power, usually based on restrictions against the upper house.
Is able to override the upper house in some ways.
Can vote a motion of no confidence against the government, as well as vote for or against any proposed candidate for head of government at the beginning of the parliamentary term.
Exceptions are Australia, where the Senate has considerable power approximate to that of the House of Representatives, and Italy and Romania, where the Senate has exactly the same powers as the Chamber of Deputies.
The government of the day is usually required to present its budget to the lower house, which must approve the budget. It is a widespread practice for revenue (appropriation) bills to originate in the lower house. A notable exception to this is the West Virginia House of Delegates in the United States, which allows revenue bills to originate from either house.[2]
Titles of lower houses
Many lower houses are named in manners such as these:
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