A lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house.
Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide, the lower house has come to wield more power. A legislature composed of only one house is described as unicameral.
In comparison with the upper house, lower houses frequently display certain characteristics:
Powers
In a parliamentary system:
Much more power, usually based on restrictions against the upper house.
Able to override the upper house in some ways.
Can vote a motion of no confidence against the government.
Exceptions are Australia, where the Senate has considerable power approximate to that of the House of Representatives, and Italy, where the Senate has exactly the same powers as the Chamber of Deputies.
In a presidential system:
Somewhat less power, as the upper house alone gives advice and consent to some executives decisions (e.g. appointments).
Given the sole power to impeach the executive (the upper house then tries the impeachment)
Status
Always elected directly, while the upper house may be elected directly, indirectly, or not elected at all.
Its members may be elected with a different voting system to the upper house.
Most populated administrative divisions are better represented than in the upper house; representation is usually proportional to population.
Elected more frequently.
Elected all at once, not by staggered terms.
In a parliamentary system, can be dissolved by the executive.
More members.
Has total or original control over budget and monetary laws.
Lower age of candidacy than the upper house.
Many lower houses are named in the following manner: House/Chamber of Representatives/the People/Commons/Deputies.
Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of Representatives
House of Assembly
House of Representatives
House of Commons
House of Delegates
Legislative Assembly
National Assembly
Lok Sabha (India)
Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (Indonesia)
Dáil Éireann (Ireland)
Dewan Rakyat (Malaysia)
Congress of Deputies (Spain)
Mazhilis (Kazakhstan)
House of Keys (Isle of Man)
Sejm (Republic of Poland) (not to be confused with the Great Sejm)
State Duma (Russia)
Tweede Kamer (Second Chamber) (Netherlands)
Parlament de Catalunya (Catalonia)
Bundestag (Germany)
Pyithu Hluttaw (Myanmar)
