Posted by Chester Morton / Wednesday, 23 November 2016 / No comments
The disadvantages of a Bicameral Legislature
Definition
A bicameral legislature refers to
that system in there is another legislature quite apart from the one that
representatives have been directly elected into. In a bicameral legislature,
the second chamber is referred to variously as the House of Lords in Britain,
the Senate in the united States of America and Nigeria.
DISADVANTAGES
Operationally more expensive
The existence of the second chamber
means that financial resources must be made available for the salaries and
emoluments. This can put an undue pressure on the national purse at the expense
of other urgent needs of the state.
Duplicates functions
It has been argued that the work that
is done by the first chamber is thorough enough not to warrant the scrutiny of another
body. The work of the second chamber is therefore described as a duplication of
functions. This being so, the existence of the second chamber is just a waste
of the human resource of the state. The existence of the second house is
therefore frivolous.
May delay the wheel of governance
Laws are needed to regulate the
conduct of people and to allow government business to flourish. Every
government needs time to accomplish its plans. However, the existence of a second
chamber tends to unduly slow down the speed at which bills are passed into law
and subsequently reduces the number of things the government is capable of
accomplishing.
Problem of composition
Various countries use different
methods in the composition of the second chamber. While some use the elective
principle or appointment, others just inherit their membership. These methods
may be suitable for the countries that use it but it does not mean they are
without disadvantages.
There could be conflicts
Sometimes, in the operation of
bicameralism there could be deadlocks. This is especially so when the second
chamber thinks some changes must effected on a bill and the first chamber
thinks otherwise. It could develop into a display of power. The presence of
such conflicts does not arguer well for the smooth administration of the state.
Location of responsibility
The involvement of both the elective and non-elective body of
legislature in the passage of laws into bill makes it difficult to see exactly
who is responsible for a particular legislation.
SAMPLE QUESTION(S)
1. Highlight six disadvantages of a bicameral legislature.
[12 marks]
2. Advance six reasons why some countries do not like the
bicameral system of government. [12 marks]
