Isabella Carter
The upper house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other being the lower house. The upper house is usually smaller and has more restricted power than the lower house. In some countries, the upper house may have equal power to the lower house regarding the constitution or territorial collectivities. The upper house is known by different names in different countries, such as the Senate, the House of Lords, or the House of Councillors. The specific name and role of the upper house can vary depending on the country's constitution and political system.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of chambers | Two |
| Powers | Usually less than the lower house |
| Membership | Not always popularly elected; may be indirect, ex officio, or by appointment |
| Voting system | May differ from the lower house |
| Representation | May be proportional to population, or not |
| Term length | May be longer than the lower house; may be for life |
| Legislative role | May propose bills for consideration by the lower house |
| Legislative powers | May be restricted to certain matters, e.g. constitutional amendments |
| Legislative veto | May defeat legislation without a veto |
| Investigative powers | May investigate State cases |
| Motion of no confidence | May not vote a motion of no confidence against the government |
| Examples | House of Lords (UK), Senate (Australia), Legislature Council (India) |
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What You'll Learn
The Upper House in the UK is the House of Lords
The House of Lords is the only upper house of any bicameral parliament in the world that is larger than its lower house. As of July 2025, it has 833 sitting members, of which 667 are life peers and 228 are women. The number of members in the House of Lords is not fixed, unlike the House of Commons. The Lords are mostly appointed for life, and 26 are bishops from the Church of England. Historically, many lordships were also hereditary, but this has been reformed and no peerages are directly inherited anymore.
The House of Lords has a number of ways to block and reject legislation, but the House of Commons can eventually use the Parliament Act to force something through. The Commons will often accept amendments passed by the Lords. The two houses have sometimes reached a constitutional standoff, which has resulted in compromise and negotiation. For example, the Weatherill Amendment to the House of Lords Act 1999 preserved 92 hereditary peers in the house.
The business of Parliament takes place in two Houses: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The House of Commons is the elected lower chamber of Parliament, with elections to 650 single-member constituencies. The Lords' benches are red, while the Commons' are green.
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The Upper House in the US is the Senate
The Upper House in the US political system is the Senate. The Senate is one of two chambers of Congress, the other being the House of Representatives, which is commonly referred to as the lower house. The US Constitution does not use the terms 'upper' and 'lower' house, but the Senate is indeed the upper house.
The US Senate has equal representation, with the same number of senators representing each state, regardless of population size. In contrast, the number of representatives in the House is proportional to the population of each state. This arrangement was agreed upon by the framers of the Constitution as part of what became known as The Great Compromise.
The Senate has several important roles and powers. Firstly, it has the authority to pass or defeat federal legislation, or bills, along with the House of Representatives. Any bills that are passed by both houses are then sent to the president for signature or veto. The Senate also has exclusive powers, including confirming or rejecting federal appointments, such as cabinet members and Supreme Court justices. Additionally, the Senate plays a crucial role in the impeachment process, serving as a court for the trial of federal officials, including the president, in the event of impeachment.
The Senate is led by the Vice President of the United States, who serves as the President of the Senate. The Senate also has its own leadership structure, including the majority and minority leaders, who manage their respective parties' legislative agendas. The Senate's rules and procedures are maintained by the Senate Majority Leader in consultation with the Minority Leader.
In summary, the Upper House in the US political system is indeed the Senate. The Senate has significant powers and plays a crucial role in law-making, oversight, and providing checks and balances on the executive branch. Its structure and powers are outlined in the US Constitution, and it operates as the upper chamber of Congress alongside the House of Representatives.
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The Upper House in Australia is the Senate
The Senate has the same legislative power as the House of Representatives (the Lower House), except that it may not originate or amend taxing or appropriation bills. It can only pass or reject them. This is a common feature of upper chambers in bicameral parliaments. The Senate's inability to amend appropriation bills (which authorise government expenditure of public revenue) was demonstrated in the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis, when the Opposition used its numbers in the Senate to defer supply bills.
The Australian Senate is partly modelled after the United States Senate, giving equal representation to each state and almost equal powers with the lower house. This was intended to give less populous states a real influence in Parliament, while also maintaining the traditional review functions of upper houses in the Westminster system.
The Upper House, or the Senate, plays an active role in legislation and is not merely a chamber of review. It is an important check on the government's power, as most bills are introduced by the government and must be negotiated with members of the opposition, minor parties, and independents to pass.
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The Upper House in India is the Legislature Council
The Upper House in India is the Legislative Council, also known as the Council of States (Rajya Sabha). The Rajya Sabha is the upper house of the Parliament of India, which consists of the President and two Houses, the other being the House of the People (Lok Sabha). The Rajya Sabha consists of 250 members, 12 of whom are nominated by the President from among persons with special knowledge or practical experience in fields such as literature, science, art, and social service. The remaining members are representatives of the States and Union Territories, elected indirectly by members of legislative assemblies of the States. The Lok Sabha, on the other hand, is the lower house, with its members directly elected by the people of India through democratic elections.
The Parliament of India holds legislative power and is responsible for overseeing administration, passing the budget, addressing public grievances, and discussing development plans, national policies, and international relations. All legislation requires the consent of both Houses of Parliament, except in the case of money bills, where the will of the Lok Sabha prevails. The Parliament also has the power to initiate amendments to the Constitution and to impeach the President or remove judges from the Supreme Court and High Courts.
The Legislative Council, or Vidhan Parishad, exists in only a few states in India, including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka. Article 169 of the Constitution empowers Parliament to abolish or create a Legislative Council in a state, requiring a special resolution by the legislative assembly of the state. The Legislative Council is subject to the condition that it shall not exceed one-third of the total number of members in the legislative assembly and must have a minimum of 40 members.
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The Upper House in Japan is the House of Councillors
The House of Councillors is the upper house of the National Diet of Japan, which is the country's parliament. The National Diet is a bicameral ("two-chamber") legislative system, with the lower house, the House of Representatives, serving as the more powerful of the two. The House of Councillors functions similarly to the Canadian Senate or the Irish Seanad, and its power is very similar to these bodies. While the House of Representatives can generally ensure its own way in disputes between the two houses, the House of Councillors does have some important powers. For example, it can block the passage of legislation by controlling a majority in the House and one-third of the House of Representatives. Additionally, the House of Councillors serves as a fully elected emergency legislature during lower house election campaigns, as the House of Representatives is dissolved and the National Diet cannot be convened.
The House of Councillors is located in the right wing of the National Diet Building. Its members are chosen by direct election, and its role and powers are unique in Japan's bicameral system. While the House of Representatives has the power to override the House of Councillors in matters of the budget, treaties, and the nomination of the prime minister, the House of Councillors has the ability to delay legislation by forcing it back to the lower house for a new vote. This dynamic between the two houses has led to some periods of stability and others of turmoil in Japan's government. For example, in 2010, the DPJ-led coalition lost its majority in the House of Councillors, which allowed the LDP to effectively block most bills from passing and turn the DPJ into a "lame duck" government.
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Frequently asked questions
An upper house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house. The upper house is usually smaller and often has more restricted power than the lower house.
The upper house in the UK is called the House of Lords.
The upper house in the US is called the Senate.
The upper house in Australia is called the Senate.
