برلمان وحيد الغرفة

(تم التحويل من أحادي الغرفة)
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Unicameralism (from uni- "one" + Latin camera "chamber") is a type of legislature consisting of one house or assembly that legislates and votes as one.[1] Unicameralism has become an increasingly common type of legislature, making up nearly 60% of all national legislatures[2] and an even greater share of subnational legislatures.

Sometimes, as in New Zealand and Denmark, unicameralism comes about through the abolition of one of two bicameral chambers, or, as in Sweden, through the merger of the two chambers into a single one, while in others a second chamber has never existed from the beginning.

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Rationale for unicameralism and criticism

The principal advantage of a unicameral system is more efficient lawmaking, as the legislative process is simpler and there is no possibility of deadlock between two chambers. Proponents of unicameralism have also argued that it reduces costs, even if the number of legislators stays the same, since there are fewer institutions to maintain and support financially. More popular among modern-day democratic countries, unicameral, proportional legislatures are widely seen as both more democratic and effective.[3]

Proponents of bicameral legislatures say that having two legislative chambers offers an additional restraint on the majority, though critics note that there are other ways to restrain majorities, such as through non-partisan courts and a robust constitution.[4]


List of unicameral legislatures

  Countries with a bicameral legislature.[6]
  Countries with a unicameral legislature.
  Countries with a unicameral legislature and an advisory body.
  Countries with no legislature.

Approximately half of the world's sovereign states are currently unicameral. The People's Republic of China is somewhat in-between, with a legislature and a formal advisory body. China has a Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference which meets alongside the National People's Congress, in many respects an advisory "upper house".

Many subnational entities have unicameral legislatures. These include the state of Nebraska and territories of Guam and the Virgin Islands in the United States, the Chinese special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, the Australian state of Queensland as well as the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory, a majority of the provinces of Argentina, all of the provinces and territories in Canada, all of the regions of Italy, all of the provinces of Nepal. all of the Spanish autonomous communities, both the autonomous regions of Portugal, most of the states and union territories of India, and all of the states of Brazil and Germany. In the United Kingdom, the devolved Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Senedd, the Northern Ireland Assembly, and the London Assembly are also unicameral.

National (UN member states and observers)

Federal

Country Unicameral body Seats Notes
 ألمانيا Bundestag 736 The Bundestag is technically the unicameral parliament of Germany, since the Bundesrat is not defined as a chamber of the legislature, but a completely separate legislative institution according to the Basic Law (German constitution).
 العراق Council of Representatives 329 provision exists for the founding of a "Council of Union", but no move to this effect has been initiated by the existing Council
 ميكرونزيا Congress 14
 سانت كيتس ونڤيس National Assembly 15
 الإمارات العربية المتحدة Federal National Council 40
 ڤنزويلا National Assembly 277

Unitary

Country Unicameral body Seats Notes
 أفغانستان Leadership Council 30 Purely advisory, powers reside in the emir
 ألبانيا Kuvendi 140
 أندورا General Council of Andorra 28
 أنگولا National Assembly 220
 أرمنيا National Assembly 107
 أذربيجان National Assembly 125
 بنگلادش Jatiya Sangsad 350
 بنين National Assembly 109
 بتسوانا National Assembly 65
 بروناي Legislative Council 37 Purely advisory, powers reside in the King
 بلغاريا National Assembly 240
 بوركينا فاسو National Assembly 127
 الرأس الأخضر National Assembly 72
 جمهورية أفريقيا الوسطى National Assembly 140
 تشاد National Assembly 188
 الصين National People's Congress 2977
 كوستاريكا Legislative Assembly 57
 كرواتيا Sabor 151
 كوبا National Assembly of People's Power 470
 قبرص House of Representatives 56
 الدنمارك Folketing 179
 جيبوتي National Assembly 65
 دومنيكا House of Assembly 32
 تيمور الشرقية National Parliament 65
 الإكوادور National Assembly 137
 السلڤادور Legislative Assembly 60
 إرتريا National Assembly 150
 إستونيا Riigikogu 101
 فيجي Parliament 55
 فنلندا Parliament 200
 گامبيا National Assembly 58
 جورجيا Parliament 150
 غانا Parliament 275
 اليونان Parliament 300
 گواتيمالا Congress 160
 غينيا National Assembly 81
 غينيا-بيساو National People's Assembly 102
 گويانا National Assembly 65
 هندوراس National Congress 128
 المجر National Assembly 199
 آيسلندا Althing 63
 إيران Islamic Consultative Assembly 290
 إسرائيل Knesset 120
 كيريباس House of Assembly 45
 كوريا الشمالية Supreme People's Assembly 687
 كوريا الجنوبية National Assembly 300
 الكويت National Assembly 65
 قيرغيزستان Supreme Council 90
 لاوس National Assembly 164
 لاتڤيا Saeima 100
 لبنان Parliament 128
 ليبيا House of Representatives 200
 ليختنشتاين Landtag 25
 لتوانيا Seimas 141
 لوكسمبورگ Chamber of Deputies 60
 ملاوي National Assembly 193
 المالديڤ Majlis 93
 مالي National Assembly 147
 مالطا Parliament 79
 جزر مارشال Legislature 33
 موريتانيا Parliament 176
 موريشيوس National Assembly 70
 مولدوڤا Parliament 101
 موناكو National Council 24
 منغوليا State Great Khural 76
 الجبل الأسود Parliament 81
 موزمبيق Assembly of the Republic 250
 ناورو Parliament 19
 نيوزيلندا Parliament 120
 نيكاراگوا National Assembly 90
 النيجر National Assembly 171
 شمال مقدونيا Assembly 120
 النرويج Storting 169
 فلسطين Legislative Council 132
 پنما National Assembly 71
 پاپوا غينيا الجديدة National Parliament 118
 پيرو Congress of the Republic 130 The composition of the Congress of Peru in 2026, will return to being a bicameral legislature with a 60-seat Senate and 130-seat Chamber of Deputies.
 الپرتغال Assembly of the Republic 230
 قطر Consultative Assembly 45
 سانت ڤنسنت والگرنادينز House of Assembly 21
 ساموا Legislative Assembly 53
 السعودية Consultative Assembly 150 Purely advisory, powers reside in the King
 سان مارينو Grand and General Council 60
 ساو تومه وپرنسيپه National Assembly 55
 السنغال National Assembly 165
 صربيا National Assembly 250
 سيشل National Assembly 35
 سيراليون Parliament 149
 سنغافورة Parliament 103
 سلوڤاكيا National Council 150
 جزر سولومون National Parliament 50
 سريلانكا Parliament 225
 سورينام National Assembly 51
 السويد Riksdag 349
 سوريا Parliament 250
 تنزانيا National Assembly 393
 توگو National Assembly 91
 تونگا Legislative Assembly 26
 تونس National Assembly 161
 تركيا Grand National Assembly 600
 تركمنستان Assembly 125
 توڤالو Parliament 16
 أوغندا Parliament 557
 أوكرانيا Verkhovna Rada 450
 ڤانواتو Parliament 52
  الڤاتيكان Pontifical Commission 8 All powers delegated by the sovereign
 ڤيتنام National Assembly 500
 زامبيا National Assembly 167


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Territorial

Country Unicameral body Seats Notes
 ج. العذراء البريطانية House of Assembly 15
 جزر كايمان Legislative Assembly 21
 جزر كوك Parliament 24
 جزر فوكلاند Legislative Assembly 11
 جزر فارو Løgting 33
 جبل طارق Parliament 17
 گرينلاند Inatsisartut 31
 گوام Legislature 15
 هونگ كونگ Legislative Council 90
 مكاو Legislative Assembly 33
 نيووِيْ Assembly 20
قالب:Country data Tobago House of Assembly 15
 الجزر العذراء الأمريكية Legislature 15

State parliaments with limited recognition

Country Unicameral body Seats Notes
 أبخازيا People's Assembly 35
 كوسوڤو Assembly 120
 قبرص الشمالية Assembly of the Republic 50
 الجمهورية العربية الصحراوية الديمقراطية‎ National Council 51
 اوستيا الجنوبية Parliament 34
 تايوان Legislative Yuan 113 The original constitution is partially superseded by the additional articles only on Taiwan which replaced the tricameral parliament into a unicameral one. A sunset clause in the additional articles will terminate them in the event of a hypothetical resumption of ROC rule in Mainland China.
 ترانس‌نيستريا Supreme Council 33

Subnational

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Federations

Devolved governments

Others

List of historical unicameral legislatures

National

Subnational

Other

Unicameralism in the Philippines

Though the current Congress of the Philippines is bicameral, the country experienced unicameralism in 1898 and 1899 (during the First Philippine Republic), from 1935 to 1941 (the Commonwealth era) and from 1943 to 1944 (during the Japanese occupation). Under the 1973 Constitution, the legislative body was called Batasang Pambansa, which functioned also a unicameral legislature within a parliamentary system (1973–1981) and a semi-presidential system (1981–1986) form of government.

The ongoing process of amending or revising the current Constitution and form of government is popularly known as Charter Change. A shift to a unicameral parliament was included in the proposals of the constitutional commission created by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.[7] Unlike in the United States, senators in the Senate of the Philippines are elected not per district and state but nationally; the Philippines is a unitary state.[8] The Philippine government's decision-making process, relative to the United States, is more rigid, highly centralised, much slower and susceptible to political gridlock. As a result, the trend for unicameralism as well as other political system reforms are more contentious in the Philippines.[9]

While Congress is bicameral, all local legislatures are unicameral: the Bangsamoro Parliament, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Boards), Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Councils), Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Councils), Sangguniang Barangay (Barangay Councils), and the Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Councils).

Unicameralism in the United States

The Nebraska Legislature (also called the Unicameral) is the supreme legislative body of the state of Nebraska and the only unicameral state legislature in the United States. Its members are called "senators", as it was originally the upper house of a bicameral legislature before the Nebraska House of Representatives dissolved in 1937. The legislature is also notable for being nonpartisan and officially recognizes no party affiliation, making Nebraska unique among U.S. states. With 49 members, it is also the smallest legislature of any U.S. state.

A 2018 study found that efforts to adopt unicameralism in Ohio and Missouri failed due to rural opposition.[10] There was a fear in rural communities that unicameralism would diminish their influence in state government.[10]

Local government legislatures of counties, cities, or other political subdivisions within states are usually unicameral and have limited lawmaking powers compared to their state and federal counterparts.

Some of the 13 colonies which became independent, such as Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New Hampshire had initially introduced strong unicameral legislature and (relatively) less powerful governors with no veto power. Pennsylvania's constitution lasted only 14 years. In 1790, conservatives gained power in the state legislature, called a new constitutional convention, and rewrote the constitution. The new constitution substantially reduced universal male suffrage, gave the governor veto power and patronage appointment authority, and added an upper house with substantial wealth qualifications to the unicameral legislature. Thomas Paine called it a constitution unworthy of America.[بحاجة لمصدر]

In 1944, Missouri held a vote on changing the General Assembly to a unicameral one, which was narrowly rejected by the voters 52.42-47.58. Only the city of St. Louis and the St. Louis County voted in favor, whilst Jackson County (containing the bulk of Kansas City) narrowly voted against, and all other counties voted against the change to unicameralism.[11][12]

In 1970, North Dakota voters voted to call a constitutional convention. In 1972, a change to a unicameral legislature was approved by 69.36-30.64,[13] however, since the voters rejected the new constitution at the same referendum, it never took effect.[14]

In 1999, Governor Jesse Ventura proposed converting the Minnesota Legislature into a single chamber.[15] Although debated, the idea was never adopted.

The U.S. territory of Puerto Rico held a non-binding referendum in 2005. Voters approved changing its Legislative Assembly to a unicameral body by 456,267 votes in favor (83.7%) versus 88,720 against (16.3%).[16] If both the territory's House of Representatives and Senate had approved by a 23 vote the specific amendments to the Puerto Rico Constitution that are required for the change to a unicameral legislature, another referendum would have been held in the territory to approve such amendments. If those constitutional changes had been approved, Puerto Rico could have switched to a unicameral legislature as early as 2015.

On June 9, 2009, the Maine House of Representatives voted to form a unicameral legislature, but the measure did not pass the Senate.[17]

Because of legislative gridlock in 2009, former Congressman Rick Lazio, a prospective candidate for governor, has proposed that New York adopt unicameralism.[18]

The United States as a whole was subject to a unicameral Congress during the years 1781–1788, when the Articles of Confederation were in effect. The Confederate States of America, pursuant to its Provisional Constitution, in effect from February 8, 1861, to February 22, 1862, was governed by a unicameral Congress.[19]

See also

References

  1. ^ Lanham, Url (2018). The insects. Gene-Tech Books. ISBN 978-81-89729-42-4. OCLC 1003201754.
  2. ^ "Structure of parliaments". IPU PARLINE database. 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  3. ^ Wirls, Daniel (2004). The invention of the United States Senate. Stephen Wirls. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-8018-7438-6. OCLC 51878651.
  4. ^ Litt, David (2020). Democracy in one book or less : how it works, why it doesn't, and why fixing it is easier than you think (First ed.). New York, NY. ISBN 978-0-06-287936-3. OCLC 1120147424.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. ^ Reuter, Konrad (2003). "Zweite Kammer?". Bundesrat und Bundesstaat: Der Bundesrat der Bundesrepublik Deutschland(PDF) (in German) (12th ed.). Berlin: Direktor des Bundesrates. p. 50. ISBN 3-923706-22-7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-06-28. Retrieved 2007-01-04. Im Ausland wird ein solches parlamentarisches System im Allgemeinen als Zweikammer- System bezeichnet. Für Bundestag und Bundesrat ist dagegen eine gemeinsame Bezeichnung nicht allgemein üblich, und es ist sogar umstritten, ob der Bundesrat eine Zweite Kammer ist. (English: Abroad, such a parliamentary system is in general called a bicameral one. For Bundestag and Bundesrat such a common designation is not usual and it is even contentious whether the Bundesrat is a second chamber at all.)
  6. ^ Classifications of Germany as a country with a bicameral legislature can be controversial.[5]
  7. ^ "Constitutional Commission proposals". Concom.ph. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  8. ^ Softrigger Interactive (2008-02-25). "Philippines : Gov.Ph : About the Philippines". Archived from the original on February 25, 2008. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  9. ^ "Why Change?". Concom.ph. Archived from the original on 2006-08-18. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  10. ^ أ ب Myers, Adam S. (2018). "The Failed Diffusion of the Unicameral State Legislature, 1934–1944". Studies in American Political Development (in الإنجليزية). 32 (2): 217–235. doi:10.1017/S0898588X18000135. ISSN 0898-588X. S2CID 150363451.
  11. ^ "Missouri Unicameral Legislature, Issue 2 (1944)". Ballotpedia (in الإنجليزية). Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  12. ^ "1944 Referendum General Election Results - Missouri".
  13. ^ "North Dakota Unicameral or Bicameral Legislature, Alternate Proposition 1 (1972)". Ballotpedia (in الإنجليزية). Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  14. ^ "North Dakota Constitution, Main Proposition (1972)". Ballotpedia (in الإنجليزية). Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  15. ^ "One People – One House". News.minnesota.publicradio.org. 1999-04-29. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  16. ^ "Referéndum sobre el Sistema Cameral". Comisión Estatal de Elecciones de Puerto Rico. 2005-07-10.
  17. ^ "RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Establish a Unicameral Legislature" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  18. ^ One for All, Rick Lazio, New York Times, July 14, 2009
  19. ^ "Avalon Project - Confederate States of America - Constitution for the Provisional Government". avalon.law.yale.edu.