Legislatures can be classified into unicameral and bicameral depending upon the number of chambers / houses. A legislature is unicameral if it has only one chamber; bicameral if it has two chambers.
In India, the U.S.A., Russia, the U.K., France, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, Canada and most other countries the legislature is bicameral in structure. Bicameralism the powers and functions of the two houses vary. However, in a few states like Portugal, Poland, Hungary, China, Israel, the unicameral system prevails.
Upper House
In bicameralism the function and composition of both houses differ. In India, twelve members are nominated to the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) which is the upper house of Parliament. The remaining 238 members are indirectly elected by the legislatures of states.
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In United Kingdom, the House of Lords include hereditary peers, spiritual peers, Lords of Appeal and others. The members of the Senate in the U.S.A. are elected for six years by popular vote. In India, the tenure of Rajya Sabha members is six years, one-third of its members retiring every two years. In the U.S.A. and India, the age qualification is 30 years for the upper house and it is 25 for the lower house.
Lower House
The lower house is usually elected directly by the people. The whole country is divided into a number of electoral constituencies from which representatives are elected periodically. The lower house is the more popular chamber and plays a more important role in the making of laws, in controlling the administration, and in the field of state finance.
Its approval is necessary for important policies and programmes of the government. In a parliamentary form of government the executive is responsible to this house. In India, the members of Lok Sabha (House of people) are elected for five years. In the United Kingdom the tenure for members of the House of Commons is five years, while in the U.S.A., it is two years for the members of the House of Representatives.