#BlueStarByte: Multicameralism

Multicameralist legislative systems are largely rooted in medieval Europe, where society was often divided amongst nobles, the clergy, and commoners. While there are many examples of multicameralist legislative systems throughout history, the designation of some is more disputed than others. Outlined below are some of the most interesting examples we found.

Manx Tynwald: The Manx Tynwald is arguably the last modern multicameral system. It consists of two chambers: The upper chamber, the Legislative Council, and the lower chamber, the House of Keys. When the two chambers sit together, they are referred to as the “Tynwald Court”. While some dispute whether the Manx Tynwald is truly a tricameral system, the Government of the Isle of Mann’s website states that the Tynwald is tricameral.

Simón Bolívar’s model state: In his writings, Simón Bolívar, the Latin American statesman and revolutionary, outlined a vision of multicameralism in his writing and his address at the Congress of Angostura. Bolívar envisioned a popularly elected lower chamber, a hereditary Senate, similar to the British House of Lords, and a third chamber of “Censors” consisting of constitutional lawyers to serve as a check on the other two chambers. Bolívar’s model was adopted by Bolivia in its constitution of 1826 but quickly fell into disuse following the Chuquisaca Mutiny in 1828 and was eliminated in 1831.

Swedish Riksdag & Diet of Finland: Finland, under Swedish Rule from the 1150s to 1809, held the longest-lasting multicameral legislative system in mainland Europe. Under Swedish rule, Swedish and Finnish society were represented in the Swedish Riksdag, a four-chambered legislature consisting of representatives of the nobility, the clergy, burghers and peasants. In 1809 Imperial Russia assumed control of Finland and the powers of the Swedish Riksdag were assumed by the Diet of Finland. Despite Sweden’s decision to switch to a bicameral legislative system in 1866, the Diet of Finland operated as a four-chambered body until 1906.