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{{Short description|Governmental practice of having a single legislative or parliamentary chamber}}
{{Redirect|Unicameral}}
{{Legislature}}
'''Unicameralism''' (from ''uni''- "one" + Latin ''camera'' "chamber") is a type of [[legislature]], which consists of one house or assembly, that legislates and votes as one.<ref>{{cite book |last=Lanham |first=Url (1918–1999) |title=The insects |url=https://worldcat.org/title/1003201754 |year=2018 |isbn=978-81-89729-42-4 |oclc=1003201754}}</ref> Unicameralism has become an increasingly common type of legislature, making up nearly 60% of all national legislatures<ref>{{Cite web |title=IPU PARLINE database: Structure of parliaments |url=https://data.ipu.org/compare?field=country%3A%3Afield_structure_of_parliament#pie |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=archive.ipu.org}}</ref> and an even greater share of subnational legislatures.

Sometimes, as in [[New Zealand]] and [[Denmark]], unicameralism comes about through the [[list of abolished upper houses|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.

==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 [[gridlock (politics)|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 representation|proportional]] legislatures are widely seen as both more democratic and effective.<ref name=":22">{{Cite book |last=Wirls |first=Daniel |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/51878651 |title=The invention of the United States Senate |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press |others=Stephen Wirls |isbn=0-8018-7438-6 |location=Baltimore |oclc=51878651}}</ref>

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.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Litt |first=David |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1120147424 |title=Democracy in one book or less : how it works, why it doesn't, and why fixing it is easier than you think |isbn=978-0-06-287936-3 |edition=First |location=New York, NY |oclc=1120147424}}</ref>

==List of unicameral legislatures==
[[File:Unibicameral Map.svg|upright=1.8|thumb|{{legend|#38b4d8|Countries with a bicameral legislature.{{refn|Classifications of Germany as a country with a bicameral legislature can be controversial.<ref>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.)</ref>}}}}{{legend|#f09c30|Countries with a unicameral legislature.}}{{legend|#b0e947|Countries with a unicameral legislature and an advisory body.}}{{legend|#333333|Countries with no legislature.}}]]

Approximately half of the world's [[sovereign state]]s are currently unicameral. The [[China|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 [[administrative division|subnational entities]] have unicameral legislatures. These include the state of [[Nebraska]] and territories of [[Guam]] and the [[United States Virgin Islands|Virgin Islands]] in the [[United States]], the Chinese [[special administrative regions of China|special administrative regions]] of [[Hong Kong]] and [[Macau|Macao]], the [[Australia]]n 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 of Canada|provinces and territories]] in [[Canada]], all of the [[regions of Italy]], 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 [[federative units of Brazil|Brazil]] and [[States of Germany|Germany]]. In the [[United Kingdom]], the devolved [[Scottish Parliament]], the [[Senedd|Senedd Cymru]], the [[Northern Ireland Assembly]], and the [[London Assembly]] are also unicameral.

===National (UN member states and observers)===

====Federal====
* [[Assembly of the Union of the Comoros|Assembly of the Union]] of the Comoros
* [[Bundestag]] of Germany{{NoteTag|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).}}<ref>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.)</ref>
* [[Council of Representatives of Iraq|Council of Representatives]] of Iraq (provision exists for the founding of a "Council of Union", but no move to this effect has been initiated by the existing Council)
* [[Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia|Congress]] of the Federated States of Micronesia
* [[National Assembly of Saint Kitts and Nevis|National Assembly]] of Saint Kitts and Nevis
* [[Federal National Council]] of the United Arab Emirates
* [[National Assembly (Venezuela)|National Assembly]] of Venezuela

====Unitary====

=====Africa=====
* [[National Assembly of Angola|National Assembly]] of Angola
* [[National Assembly of Benin|National Assembly]] of Benin
* [[National Assembly of Botswana|National Assembly]] of Botswana
* [[National Assembly of Burkina Faso|National Assembly]] of Burkina Faso
* [[National Assembly of Cape Verde|National Assembly]] of Cape Verde
* [[National Assembly of the Central African Republic|National Assembly]] of the Central African Republic
* [[National Assembly of Chad|National Assembly]] of Chad
* [[National Assembly of Djibouti|National Assembly]] of Djibouti
* [[National Assembly of Eritrea|National Assembly]] of Eritrea
* [[National Assembly of the Gambia|National Assembly]] of The Gambia
* [[Parliament of Ghana|Parliament]] of Ghana
* [[National Assembly of Guinea|National Assembly]] of Guinea
* [[National People's Assembly of Guinea-Bissau|National People's Assembly]] of Guinea-Bissau
* [[House of Representatives (Libya)|House of Representatives]] of Libya
* [[National Assembly of Malawi|National Assembly]] of Malawi
* [[People's Majlis|Majlis]] of Maldives
* [[National Assembly (Mali)|National Assembly]] of Mali
* [[Mauritanian Parliament|Parliament]] of Mauritania
* [[National Assembly of Mauritius|National Assembly]] of Mauritius
* [[Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique|Assembly of the Republic]] of Mozambique
* [[National Assembly of Niger|National Assembly]] of Niger
* [[National Assembly of São Tomé and Príncipe|National Assembly]] of São Tomé and Príncipe
* [[National Assembly (Senegal)|National Assembly]] of Senegal
* [[National Assembly of Seychelles|National Assembly]] of Seychelles
* [[Parliament of Sierra Leone|Parliament]] of Sierra Leone
* [[National Assembly of Tanzania|National Assembly]] of Tanzania
* [[National Assembly of Togo|National Assembly]] of Togo
* [[Assembly of the Representatives of the People|National Assembly]] of Tunisia
* [[Parliament of Uganda|Parliament]] of Uganda
* [[National Assembly of Zambia|National Assembly]] of Zambia

=====Asia=====
* [[Leadership Council of Afghanistan|Leadership Council]] of Afghanistan<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jones |first1=Seth G. |title=Afghanistan's Future Emirate? The Taliban and the Struggle for Afghanistan |journal=CTC Sentinel |volume=13 |issue=11 |url=https://ctc.usma.edu/afghanistans-future-emirate-the-taliban-and-the-struggle-for-afghanistan/ |access-date=2 November 2022 |publisher=[[Combating Terrorism Center]]}}</ref>
* [[National Assembly of Armenia|National Assembly]] of Armenia{{NoteTag|Geographically a part of Asia but geopolitically a part of Europe.}}
* [[National Assembly of Azerbaijan|National Assembly]] of Azerbaijan{{NoteTag|Transcontinental country.|name="TC"}}
* [[Jatiya Sangsad]] of Bangladesh
* [[Legislative Council of Brunei|Legislative Council]] of Brunei
* [[National People's Congress]] of the People's Republic of China
* [[National Parliament of East Timor|National Parliament]] of East Timor
* [[Parliament of Georgia|Parliament]] of Georgia{{NoteTag|name="TC"}}
* [[Islamic Consultative Assembly (Iran)|Islamic Consultative Assembly]] of Iran
* [[Knesset]] of Israel
* [[Supreme People's Assembly]] of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)
* [[National Assembly of South Korea|National Assembly]] of the Republic of Korea (South Korea)
* [[National Assembly of Kuwait|National Assembly]] of Kuwait
* [[Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan|Supreme Council]] of Kyrgyzstan
* [[National Assembly of Laos|National Assembly]] of Laos
* [[Parliament of Lebanon|Parliament]] of Lebanon
* [[State Great Khural]] of Mongolia
* [[Palestinian Legislative Council|Legislative Council]] of Palestine
* [[Consultative Assembly of Qatar|Consultative Assembly]] of Qatar
* [[Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia|Consultative Assembly]] of Saudi Arabia (most powers are reserved for the [[King of Saudi Arabia|King]])
* [[Parliament of Singapore|Parliament]] of Singapore
* [[Parliament of Sri Lanka|Parliament]] of Sri Lanka
* [[Parliament of Syria|Parliament]] of Syria
* [[Grand National Assembly of Turkey|Grand National Assembly]] of Turkey{{NoteTag|name="TC"}}
* [[National Assembly of Vietnam|National Assembly]] of Vietnam

=====Europe=====
* [[Parliament of Albania|Kuvendi]] of Albania
* [[National Assembly of Bulgaria|National Assembly]] of Bulgaria
* [[Sabor]] of Croatia
* [[Folketing]] of Denmark
* [[Riigikogu]] of Estonia
* [[Parliament of Finland|Parliament]] of Finland
* [[Hellenic Parliament|Parliament]] of Greece
* [[National Assembly of Hungary|National Assembly]] of Hungary
* [[Althing]] of Iceland
* [[Saeima]] of Latvia
* [[Landtag of Liechtenstein|Landtag]] of Liechtenstein
* [[Seimas]] of Lithuania
* [[Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg|Chamber of Deputies]] of Luxembourg
* [[Parliament of Malta|Parliament]] of Malta
* [[Parliament of the Republic of Moldova|Parliament]] of Moldova
* [[National Council of Monaco|National Council]] of Monaco
* [[Parliament of Montenegro|Parliament]] of Montenegro
* [[Assembly of North Macedonia|Assembly]] of North Macedonia
* [[Storting]] of Norway
* [[Assembly of the Republic (Portugal)|Assembly of the Republic]] of Portugal
* [[Grand and General Council]] of San Marino
* [[National Assembly of Serbia|National Assembly]] of Serbia
* [[National Council of the Slovak Republic|National Council]] of Slovakia
* [[Riksdag]] of Sweden
* [[Verkhovna Rada]] of Ukraine
* [[Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State|Pontifical Commission]] for Vatican City

=====North America=====
* [[Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica|Legislative Assembly]] of Costa Rica
* [[National Assembly of People's Power]] of Cuba
* [[House of Assembly of Dominica|House of Assembly]] of Dominica
* [[Legislative Assembly of El Salvador|Legislative Assembly]] of El Salvador
* [[Congress of Guatemala|Congress]] of Guatemala
* [[National Congress of Honduras|National Congress]] of Honduras
* [[National Assembly of Nicaragua|National Assembly]] of Nicaragua
* [[National Assembly of Panama|National Assembly]] of Panama
* [[House of Assembly of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|House of Assembly]] of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

=====Oceania=====
* [[Parliament of the Cook Islands|Parliament]] of the Cook Islands
* [[Parliament of Fiji|Parliament]] of Fiji
* [[House of Assembly of Kiribati|House of Assembly]] of Kiribati
* [[Legislature of the Marshall Islands|Legislature]] of the Marshall Islands
* [[Parliament of Nauru|Parliament]] of Nauru
* [[New Zealand Parliament|Parliament]] of New Zealand
* [[Niue Assembly|Assembly]] of Niue
* [[National Parliament of Papua New Guinea|National Parliament]] of Papua New Guinea
* [[Legislative Assembly of Samoa|Legislative Assembly]] of Samoa
* [[National Parliament of Solomon Islands|National Parliament]] of Solomon Islands
* [[Legislative Assembly of Tonga|Legislative Assembly]] of Tonga
* [[Parliament of Tuvalu|Parliament]] of Tuvalu
* [[Parliament of Vanuatu|Parliament]] of Vanuatu

=====South America=====
* [[National Assembly (Ecuador)|National Assembly]] of Ecuador
* [[National Assembly of Guyana|National Assembly]] of Guyana
* [[Congress of the Republic of Peru|Congress of the Republic]] of Peru
* [[National Assembly of Suriname|National Assembly]] of Suriname

===Territorial===
* [[House of Assembly of the British Virgin Islands|House of Assembly]] of the British Virgin Islands
* [[Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands|Legislative Assembly]] of the Cayman Islands
* [[Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands|Legislative Assembly]] of the Falkland Islands
* The [[Løgting]] of the Faroe Islands
* [[Gibraltar Parliament|Parliament]] of Gibraltar
* [[Inatsisartut]] of Greenland
* [[Legislature of Guam|Legislature]] of Guam
* [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong|Legislative Council]] of Hong Kong
* [[Legislative Assembly of Macau|Legislative Assembly]] of Macao
* [[Tobago House of Assembly|House of Assembly]] of Tobago
* [[Legislature of the Virgin Islands|Legislature]] of the U.S. Virgin Islands

===State parliaments with limited recognition===
* [[People's Assembly of Abkhazia|People's Assembly]] of Abkhazia
* [[National Assembly (Artsakh)|National Assembly]] of the Republic of Artsakh
* [[Assembly of Kosovo|Assembly]] of Kosovo
* [[Assembly of the Republic (Northern Cyprus)|Assembly of the Republic]] of Northern Cyprus
* [[Sahrawi National Council|National Council]] of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
* [[Parliament of South Ossetia|Parliament]] of South Ossetia
* [[Legislative Yuan]] of the Republic of China (Taiwan){{NoteTag|The [[Constitution of the Republic of China|original constitution]] is partially superseded by the [[Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China|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.}}
* [[Supreme Council (Transnistria)|Supreme Council]] of Transnistria

===Subnational===

====Federations====
* All legislatures and legislative councils of the [[communities, regions, and language areas of Belgium|regions and communities]] of Belgium
* All legislative assemblies in all states of Brazil
* All [[Legislative Assemblies of Canadian provinces and territories|legislative assemblies]] of the [[provinces and territories of Canada|provinces and territories]] of Canada
* All [[Landtag]]e of the [[states of Germany|states]] of Germany
* All legislative assemblies of the [[states and federal territories of Malaysia|states]] of Malaysia
* All legislatures in all states of Mexico
* All legislatures of the [[Provinces of Nepal|provinces]] in Nepal
* All legislatures of the [[administrative units of Pakistan|provinces and territories]] in Pakistan
* The [[Nebraska Legislature|legislature]] of the [[U. S. state|state]] of Nebraska, and [[Council of the District of Columbia|council]] of the District of Columbia in the [[United States]]
* [[Parliament of Queensland|Parliament]] of Queensland and the [[parliaments of the Australian states and territories|legislative assemblies]] of the [[states and territories of Australia|territories]] of Australia (but not the other states)
* [[Provincial legislature (South Africa)|Provincial legislatures]] of the [[provinces of South Africa|provinces]] of South Africa
* [[National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska|Narodna skupština]] of Republika Srpska

[[File:Legislaturas provinciales de Argentina.png|upright|thumb|[[List of provincial legislatures in Argentina|Provincial legislatures in Argentina]]]]

* 15 of the [[provinces of Argentina|provinces]] of Argentina – Chaco, Chubut, Córdoba, Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Misiones, Neuquén, Río Negro, San Juan, Santa Cruz, Santiago del Estero, Tierra del Fuego, Tucumán, and the autonomous city of Buenos Aires.
* 22 of the [[states and union territories of India|states]] of India – [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[Assam]], [[Chhattisgarh]], [[Goa]], [[Gujarat]], [[Haryana]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Jharkhand]], [[Kerala]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Manipur]], [[Meghalaya]], [[Mizoram]], [[Nagaland]], [[Odisha]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[Rajasthan]], [[Sikkim]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Tripura]], [[Uttarakhand]], and [[West Bengal]]; and 3 of the [[union territories]] – [[Delhi]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], and [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]].

====Devolved governments====
* Iraqi Kurdistan [[Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament|Parliament]]
* [[Northern Ireland Assembly]]
* [[Scottish Parliament]]
* [[Senedd]] (Welsh Parliament)
* Parliaments of the [[autonomous communities of Spain|autonomous communities]] of Spain
* All [[regional council (France)|regional councils]] of France
* Bangsamoro [[Bangsamoro Parliament|Parliament]]
* All [[oblasts of Ukraine|Oblast Councils]] of Ukraine
* City and County Councils of the [[administrative divisions of Taiwan|special municipalities, provincial cities, and counties]] of the Republic of China (Taiwan)

====Others====
* [[Elections in China#Local People's Congresses|Local People's Congresses]] of all levels of provinces, regions, and municipalities of the People's Republic of China
* [[Palestinian National Council|National Council]] of the Palestine Liberation Organization

==List of historical unicameral legislatures==

===National===
* The [[First Protectorate Parliament]] and [[Second Protectorate Parliament]] of the [[Kingdom of England]], regulated by the [[Instrument of Government]] (dissolved)
* [[Parliament of Scotland|Parliament]] of the [[Kingdom of Scotland]] until 1707 (dissolved)
* [[Congress of the Confederation]] was unicameral before being replaced in 1789 by the current, bicameral United States Congress.
* [[Provisional Congress of the Confederate States|Provisional Congress]] of the Confederate States was unicameral before being replaced by the bicameral Confederate States Congress in 1862.
* [[Congress of Deputies (Spain)|Congress of Deputies]] of [[Second Spanish Republic]] was unicameral between 1931 and 1936. Dissolved at the end of [[Spanish Civil War]]
* The [[Parliament of Uzbekistan]] was unicameral before being replaced in 2005 by the current, bicameral [[Oliy Majlis]].
* [[National Assembly (Cameroon)|National Assembly]] of [[Cameroon]] was unicameral before being replaced in 2013 by the current, bicameral Parliament of Cameroon.
* [[Chamber of Deputies (Equatorial Guinea)|Chamber of People's Representative]] of [[Equatorial Guinea]] was unicameral before being replaced in 2013 by the current, bicameral Parliament of Equatorial Guinea.
* [[National Assembly (Kenya)|National Assembly]] of [[Kenya]] was the country's unicameral legislature before becoming the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Kenya in 2013.
* [[National Assembly (Ivory Coast)|National Assembly]] of [[Ivory Coast]] was the country's unicameral legislature before becoming the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Ivory Coast in 2016.
* [[Central Indonesian National Committee|Central National Committee]] and the [[Provisional People's Representative Council]] of [[Indonesia]] was the unicameral legislature of the Republic of Indonesia during the [[Indonesian National Revolution|War of Independence]] and the [[liberal democracy period in Indonesia|Liberal democracy era]].

===Subnational===
* [[Georgia General Assembly|General Assembly]] of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] until 1789
* [[Pennsylvania General Assembly|General Assembly]] of [[Pennsylvania]] until 1790
* [[Vermont General Assembly|General Assembly]] of [[Vermont]] until 1836

===Other===
* [[Assembly of Representatives (Mandatory Palestine)|Assembly of Representatives]] of [[Yishuv]] community in [[Mandatory Palestine]] from 1920 to 1949

==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 of the Philippines|Commonwealth]] era) and from 1943 to 1944 (during the [[Japanese occupation of the Philippines|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 [[1987 Constitution|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]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.concom.ph/proposals/ |title=Constitutional Commission proposals |publisher=Concom.ph |access-date=2013-11-26}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Softrigger Interactive |url=http://www.gov.ph/aboutphil/a6.asp |title=Philippines : Gov.Ph : About the Philippines |access-date=2013-11-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225020806/http://www.gov.ph/aboutphil/a6.asp |archive-date=February 25, 2008}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.concom.ph/news/oct192005whychange.php |title=Why Change? |publisher=Concom.ph |access-date=2013-11-26 |archive-date=2006-08-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060818155246/http://www.concom.ph/news/oct192005whychange.php |url-status=dead}}</ref>

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.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal |last=Myers |first=Adam S. |title=The Failed Diffusion of the Unicameral State Legislature, 1934–1944 |journal=Studies in American Political Development |language=en |volume=32 |issue=2 |pages=217–235 |doi=10.1017/S0898588X18000135 |s2cid=150363451 |issn=0898-588X}}</ref> There was a fear in rural communities that unicameralism would diminish their influence in state government.<ref name=":0" />

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#Governance|Pennsylvania]], [[New Jersey#Government and politics|New Jersey]] and [[New Hampshire#Law and government|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.

In 1999, Governor [[Jesse Ventura]] proposed converting the [[Minnesota Legislature]] into a single chamber.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/199904/29_kastem_uni/ |title=One People – One House |publisher=News.minnesota.publicradio.org |access-date=2013-11-26}}</ref> Although debated, the idea was never adopted.

Seven U.S. states, [[Arizona Legislature|Arizona]], [[Idaho Legislature|Idaho]], [[Maryland General Assembly|Maryland]], [[New Jersey Legislature|New Jersey]], [[North Dakota Legislative Assembly|North Dakota]], [[South Dakota State Legislature|South Dakota]], and [[Washington State Legislature|Washington]], effectively have two-house unicamerals. In these states, districts in the upper house and the lower house are combined into a single constituency, a practice known as [[nesting (voting districts)|nesting]].

The [[territories of the United States|U.S. territory]] of [[Puerto Rico]] held a non-binding [[Puerto Rican unicameralism referendum|referendum in 2005]]. Voters approved changing its [[Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico|Legislative Assembly]] to a unicameral body by 456,267 votes in favor (83.7%) versus 88,720 against (16.3%).<ref>{{cite web |title=Referéndum sobre el Sistema Cameral |url=http://168.62.166.179/referendum2005/ |publisher=Comisión Estatal de Elecciones de Puerto Rico}}</ref> If both the territory's [[Puerto Rico House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] and [[Puerto Rico Senate|Senate]] had approved by a {{frac|2|3}} 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_124th/billpdfs/HP100001.pdf |title=RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Establish a Unicameral Legislature |access-date=2013-11-26}}</ref>

Because of [[legislative gridlock]] in 2009, former Congressman [[Rick Lazio]], a prospective candidate for governor, has proposed that [[New York (state)|New York]] adopt unicameralism.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/14/opinion/14lazio.html One for All], [[Rick Lazio]], ''New York Times'', July 14, 2009</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/csa_csapro.asp |title=Avalon Project - Confederate States of America - Constitution for the Provisional Government |website=avalon.law.yale.edu}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{NoteFoot}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{National unicameral legislatures}}
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[[Category:Legislatures]]
[[Category:Unicameral legislatures| ]]

Unicameralism - Revision history

Saddiqa khatri: Enhanced content and organization

AvijitDas2003: Constructed an original page.