IN PERSON - House Talks: Exploring Bicameralism and Unicameralism

What is bicameralism?

The term comes from the Latin meaning “two rooms” or “two houses”. The Parliament of NSW is a bicameral parliament with two distinct chambers: the Legislative Assembly, often referred to as the lower house, and the Legislative Council, known as the upper house.

But why do we have two houses?

Bicameralism, the practice of having two separate chambers within a legislature, is the most common arrangement of government systems including several Australian State Parliaments, the Commonwealth Parliament, the United Kingdom Parliament, and the United States Congress.

In contrast, unicameralism, characterised by a single parliamentary chamber, as exemplified in Queensland and New Zealand, represents an alternative model.

Join us in the historic Jubilee Room situated between the two chambers to explore the differences between bicameral and unicameral legislatures. This event will also be livestreamed.

This event is coordinated by the Parliamentary Education and Engagement team. Our House Talks series is intended to highlight a range of interesting historical and cultural topics related to the functions of the Parliament of NSW and our democracy.

Date: Tuesday, 30 July 2024

Time: Optional tour at 5 PM, main event from 5:30 PM to 6:45 PM

Location: Jubilee Room, NSW Parliament House, 6 Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000

*The Australasian Study of Parliament Group (ASPG) is a politically non-partisan body established in 1978 to encourage and stimulate research, writing, teaching, and discussion about parliamentary institutions in Australasia and the South Pacific. The ASPG has chapters in all states and territories of Australia and in New Zealand and is open to parliamentarians, parliamentary officers, academics, teachers, journalists, students, and all interested individuals. Learn more: www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/about/getinvolved/Pages/Australasian-Study-of-Parliament-Group-ASPG.aspx

Host or Publisher Parliament of NSW