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unicameral

/ˈjunəˌkæmərəl/

IPA guide

Use the adjective unicameral to describe a government with only one legislative house or chamber. The Parliament of Finland, for example, is unicameral.

Some governments are split into two houses — these are called bicameral legislatures. When there is only one house, usually because the government is small or the country is homogeneous, it's called unicameral. Having a unicameral government is simpler and more straightforward, while a bicameral legislature can represent more diverse groups. The word unicameral has two Latin roots, uni, which means "one," and camera, "chamber."

Definitions of unicameral
  1. adjective
    composed of one legislative body
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    antonyms:
    bicameral
    composed of two legislative bodies
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