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An Overview of Article 1 of the Constitution

Background

A bicameral legislature simply refers to a particular body of government that consists of two legislative houses or chambers. In certain variations, a bicameral system may include two parliamentary chambers. The overall purpose behind bicameral legislature is to provide for representation for both the citizens of a country, as well as the state legislatures on the federal level or in the central government of a country or nation.

Most federal systems of government will likely employ a bicameral system for their legislature. There are two inherent arguments over the function and purpose for a bicameral legislature. Experts will often cite the occurrence of deadlocks or stalemates in this particular system as a deterrent to passing important political reforms, making them more difficult to achieve. Others will argue that the bicameral legislature is necessary to maintain an effective system of checks and balances which will prevent legislation from being enacted into law that would unfavorably affect a certain faction or government or its people. 

American Bicameral Legislature

The United States Congress proves to be quite an exceptional example to the bicameral legislature system. It was enacted as a result of the drafting of the United States Constitution, which arose from the Philadelphia Convention in 1787. It replaced the previous Congress, which was a unicameral system. Furthermore, its genesis is a result of compromise between opposing views of the Framers of the Constitution.

James Madison and his Virginia Plan called for a bicameral system in which the lower House would be elected by the people, while the upper House would be appointed by the lower House. William Paterson and his New Jersey Plan proposed that the unicameral Congress be maintained and new powers be granted in order to provide for a more effective government. The general argument rendered by Paterson and those supporting his plan was that creating a bicameral system would undermine the power of the states. Eventually, a compromise was reached and Article I of the Constitution is the outcome. Article I provides for the current form and structure of Congress today.

Theories and Purpose

The creation and implementation of a bicameral legislature by the United States Constitution had the purpose of melding the concepts of democratic values and the principles of federalism. Congress itself embodies both concepts in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House is provided the responsibility of representing the citizens of the United States, while the Senate is to maintain a semblance of authority over the States. This is reflected in the explicit responsibilities and powers delegated specifically to each House, as well as in the term length and qualifications for membership.

The House is to deal with aspects of the people and their direct election by citizens. A short two-year term is implemented to ensure that the people are the main agenda of the Representatives. The Senate has more strict qualifications and a six-year term, which allows them to focus on issues that are more extensive that affect the nation as a whole. 

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