What are the benefits and drawbacks of a bicameral system? | Citizenship

Starter quiz

What are the three parts of Parliament made up of?

House of Lords, monarchy and Supreme Court

House of Commons, monarchy and Supreme Court

House of Commons, House of Lords and monarchy ✓

House of Commons, House of Lords and Supreme Court
Which of the following best describes the role of the UK Parliament?

To enforce laws and manage the police force.

To create and pass laws, and hold the Government to account. ✓

To interpret laws and settle legal disputes.
The elected chamber in UK Parliament is called the House of ...

'Commons' ✓
Match the sentence starter to its end.

A codified constitution is when the

⇔

laws that govern a country are written down, usually in one document. ✓

An uncodified constitution is when

⇔

laws that govern a country are not written down in one document. ✓
Which part of Parliament is responsible for each of the following events?

State Opening of Parliament

⇔

House of Commons, Lords and monarchy ✓

Lords debating in their chamber

⇔

House of Lords ✓

MPs debating in their chamber

⇔

House of Commons ✓
What was Magna Carta?

A royal charter expanding the king’s power and granting new rights to nobles.

A royal charter limiting the king’s power and protecting certain rights. ✓

A royal charter giving all the king's power to Parliament for the first time.

Exit quiz

Bicameral means there are ______ chambers in the UK Parliament.

'two' ✓
Order these events about the UK's bicameral system in chronological order.

1

⇔

Parliament begins as unicameral

2

⇔

Parliament splits to become bicameral

3

⇔

The Bill of Rights

4

⇔

Parliament Act

5

⇔

House of Lords Act
Which of these is a benefit of the bicameral system in the UK?

faster decision-making and law approval

only the elected chamber can influence decisions

simplifies the legislative process by reducing steps

ensures thorough scrutiny of laws through two levels of review ✓
Which of these is a drawback of the bicameral system in the UK?

laws are reviewed too quickly, leading to potential errors

decisions are often made without considering diverse perspectives

the process can be slower due to additional reviews and debates ✓
Match the sentence starter to its correct end.

The House of Commons has

⇔

more legislative power, it is the main decision-making body. ✓

The House of Lords has

⇔

primarily served as a revising chamber, it provides scrutiny. ✓

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

Bicameral refers to the two chambers in UK Parliament which are the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
The bicameral system has evolved over time.
Advantages include more scrutiny of suggested laws; disadvantages include slower processes and not fully representative.

Common misconception

Both chambers in the UK's bicameral system have equal power and roles.

The House of Commons holds more legislative power, while the House of Lords primarily acts as a revising chamber, providing scrutiny and suggesting amendments, rather than making final decisions.

Keywords

Bicameral - means two chambers; in a bicameral parliament there are two separate groups that must both agree on changes to laws; UK Parliament is bicameral it has two chambers: the House of Commons and Lords
House of commons - an elected body currently consisting of 650 Members of Parliament, where MPs debate, make laws and scrutinise the Government; it is the lower house of Parliament and meets in the Palace of Westminster
House of lords - the upper house of Parliament, composed of life peers and hereditary peers, who scrutinise the bills approved by the House of Commons; the House of Lords meets in the Palace of Westminster