What are the advantages of having a unicameral legislature?

Answer by  mjl10 (282)

A unicameral legislature would allow pieces of legislation to be debated and implemented far more quickly than in the bicameral system, since they only have to be debated and passed by one body. Unfortunately, that means that bad or dangerous legislation could be passed more quickly as well.

Answer by  tamarawilhite (17883)

When a bill is passed by a unicameral legislature, it has passed all required legislative bodies. There is no need to pass it in a second legislative body where it might die. And thus there is also no risk of separate versions passing different bodies and changing in reconciliation.

Answer by  John (9008)

It would allow decisions to be made more quickly, since there would need to be only one vote. There would also be some savings, as fewer legislators would be needed.

Answer by  palaeologus (564)

Unicameral legislatures generally have fewer members than the combined membership of bicameral legislative bodies, so they expend less money in salaries and benefits for members and staffs. It also is easier to pass legislation through one body than two, so unicameral legislatures can speedily respond to state crises.

Answer by  tamarawilhite (17883)

The only one state with a unicameral legislature is Nebraska. The benefits of this arrangement include only having to fund one legislature. And a bill that passes that legislature has passed the legislative branch intact, instead of having to be reconciled between a House and Senate. Voters also only have one legislator to represent them and only one election.

Answer by  km8738 (1917)

A unicameral legislature speeds up the process of developing new laws and policies. It removes an entire step from a bicameral legislature. It does, however, leave more room for corruption and misrepresentation of some groups of people.

Answer by  TheDude (28)

A unicameral legislature will generally be more efficient than a bicameral legislature. Bills will be passed quicker, since there will be no need to rectify the language between a bill passed by two different branches. In addition, unicamerals are generally cheaper, as they require fewer members.