Lower house

Common attributes

• In a parliamentary system, the lower house:
• *In the modern era, has much more power, usually based on restrictions against the upper house.
• *Is able to override the upper house in some ways.
• *Can vote a motion of no confidence against the government, as well as vote for or against any proposed candidate for head of government at the beginning of the parliamentary term.
• *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, the lower house:
• * Debatably somewhat less, the lower house also has exclusive powers in some areas.
• * Has the sole power to impeach the executive.
• * Typically initiates appropriation/supply-related legislation.

• 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 initial control over budget, supply, and monetary laws.
• Lower age of candidacy than the upper house.

Titles of lower houses

• Chamber of Deputies
• Chamber of Representatives
• House of Assembly
• House of Representatives
• House of Commons
• House of Delegates
• Legislative Assembly
• National Assembly