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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{short description|Chamber of a bicameral legislature}}{{Legislature}}{{politics}}

A '''lower house''' is the lower [[Debate chamber|chamber]] of a [[Bicameralism|bicameral]] [[legislature]], where the other chamber is the [[upper house]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Bicameralism |date=1997 |first=George |last=Tsebelis|author-link=George Tsebelis}}</ref> Although styled as "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide, the lower house has come to wield more power or otherwise exert significant political influence.

== Common attributes ==
In comparison with the upper house, lower houses frequently display certain characteristics (though they vary by jurisdiction).

===Powers===
In a [[parliamentary system]], the lower house:
* In the modern era, has much more power, usually due to restrictions on the upper house.
** Exceptions to this are [[Australia]], [[Italy]], and [[Romania]], where the upper and lower houses have similar power.
* 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.  

In a [[presidential system]], the lower house:
* Generally has less power than the upper house, but maintains exclusive powers in some areas.
* Has the sole power to impeach the executive; the upper house then tries the [[impeachment]].
* Typically initiates legislation on appropriation and supply.

===Status===
The lower house:
* Can, in a parliamentary system, be dissolved by the executive.
* Has total or initial control over budget, supply, and monetary laws.
* Has a lower [[age of candidacy]] than the upper house.
* Is more numerous than the upper house.
** The [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] furnishes a notable exception.

Members of the lower house:
* Are [[Direct election|elected directly]], while those of the upper house may hold their positions through direct or [[indirect election]], appointment, or inheritance.
* Are elected more frequently, and all at once, not by staggered terms.
* Are usually numbered [[proportional representation|in proportion to the population]] of their [[administrative division]]s, unlike in the upper house.

The government of the day is usually required to present [[Government budget|its budget]] to the lower house, which must approve the budget. It is a widespread practice for revenue (appropriation) bills to originate in the lower house. A notable exception to this is the [[West Virginia House of Delegates]] in the United States, which allows revenue bills to originate from either house.<ref>{{Cite web |title=West Virginia Constitution |url=http://www.wvlegislature.gov/WVCODE/WV_CON.cfm |access-date=22 February 2021 |website=West Virginia Legislature}}</ref>

== Titles of lower houses ==
Many lower houses are named in manners such as follows:
* [[Chamber of Deputies]]
* [[Chamber of Representatives (disambiguation)|Chamber of Representatives]]
* [[House of Assembly]]
* [[House of Commons]]
* [[House of Delegates (disambiguation)|House of Delegates]]
* [[House of the People (disambiguation)|House of the People]] (including [[Lok Sabha]])
* [[House of Representatives]]
* [[Legislative Assembly]]
* [[National Assembly]]
* [[National Council (disambiguation)#Legislative bodies|National Council]]
* [[Sejm]]/[[Seimas]]

== See also ==
* [[Representative democracy]]
* [[Upper house]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Category commons}}

{{National lower houses}}
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[[Category:Lower houses| ]]
[[Category:Legislatures]]