50 countries, their parliaments, special features, and facts
| Country | Name of Parliament | Special Features | Interesting / Tricky Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | Sansad (Parliament) | Bicameral: Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha | President is an integral part; RS is a permanent house |
| USA | Congress | Bicameral: Senate & House of Representatives | Senate has 100 members, 2 from each state |
| UK | Parliament | Bicameral: House of Commons & House of Lords | Monarch plays a ceremonial role |
| Russia | Federal Assembly | Bicameral: Federation Council & State Duma | President wields strong powers |
| China | National People’s Congress | Unicameral, world’s largest parliament | Communist Party controls it; “rubber-stamp” nature |
| Pakistan | Majlis-e-Shura | Bicameral: Senate & National Assembly | Military often influences politics |
| Bangladesh | Jatiya Sangsad | Unicameral | 50 seats reserved for women |
| France | Parliament | Bicameral: Senate & National Assembly | PM is responsible to National Assembly, not Senate |
| Germany | Bundestag | Bicameral: Bundestag & Bundesrat | Chancellor elected by Bundestag |
| Japan | National Diet | Bicameral: House of Councillors & Representatives | Only Asian country with Emperor & parliamentary democracy |
| Nepal | Federal Parliament | Bicameral: House of Representatives & National Assembly | Transitioned from monarchy to federal republic |
| Sri Lanka | Parliament | Unicameral | President elected by people, not parliament |
| Australia | Parliament | Bicameral: House of Representatives & Senate | Uses Preferential Voting system |
| Canada | Parliament | Bicameral: House of Commons & Senate | Senate members appointed by Governor General |
| Brazil | National Congress | Bicameral: Chamber of Deputies & Federal Senate | Famous for ‘Mensalão’ corruption scandal |
| South Africa | Parliament | Bicameral: National Assembly & National Council of Provinces | Mix of proportional representation system |
| Italy | Parliament | Bicameral: Chamber of Deputies & Senate of Republic | President has limited role; PM is head of government |
| Israel | Knesset | Unicameral | Only one chamber with 120 members |
| Iran | Islamic Consultative Assembly | Unicameral | Also supervised by Guardian Council |
| Iraq | Council of Representatives | Unicameral | Formed after Saddam’s regime |
| Afghanistan | National Assembly | Bicameral (mostly defunct post-Taliban takeover) | Wolesi Jirga (Lower); Meshrano Jirga (Upper) |
| Saudi Arabia | Consultative Assembly (Shura) | Advisory body only, no legislative powers | Members appointed by the King |
| Turkey | Grand National Assembly | Unicameral | Shifted from Parliamentary to Presidential system in 2018 |
| North Korea | Supreme People’s Assembly | Unicameral, ceremonial | Controlled by Kim family, meets once or twice a year |
| South Korea | National Assembly | Unicameral | Strong presidential system |
| Myanmar | Pyidaungsu Hluttaw | Bicameral (largely controlled by military pre-2021) | 25% military-appointed seats |
| Thailand | National Assembly | Bicameral: House of Representatives & Senate | Senate appointed by military junta |
| Malaysia | Parliament | Bicameral: Dewan Rakyat & Dewan Negara | King plays ceremonial role |
| Singapore | Parliament | Unicameral | Dominated by PAP since independence |
| Indonesia | People’s Consultative Assembly | Bicameral: DPR & DPD | Direct presidential system |
| Vietnam | National Assembly | Unicameral | Communist Party controls the legislature |
| UAE | Federal National Council | Partially elected, partially nominated | Only advisory role |
| Qatar | Shura Council | Partially elected | Recently held first-ever elections in 2021 |
| Bhutan | Parliament | Bicameral: National Council & National Assembly | Peaceful transition to democracy in 2008 |
| Maldives | People’s Majlis | Unicameral | Island nation with presidential system |
| Ukraine | Verkhovna Rada | Unicameral | Parliament dissolved multiple times due to political crises |
| Poland | National Assembly | Bicameral: Sejm & Senate | Sejm holds more power than Senate |
| Spain | Cortes Generales | Bicameral: Congress of Deputies & Senate | Constitutional monarchy |
| Argentina | National Congress | Bicameral: Senate & Chamber of Deputies | Capital city Buenos Aires often a political hotspot |
| Mexico | Congress of the Union | Bicameral: Chamber of Deputies & Senate | Elections every 3 years for Deputies |
| Switzerland | Federal Assembly | Bicameral: National Council & Council of States | Known for Direct Democracy through referendums |
| Norway | Storting | Unicameral (effectively bicameral in function) | First country to grant women full voting rights |
| Sweden | Riksdag | Unicameral | Famous for high transparency |
| Finland | Eduskunta | Unicameral | Strong welfare state |
| Denmark | Folketing | Unicameral | Monarchy with ceremonial powers |
| New Zealand | Parliament | Unicameral | Uses Mixed-Member Proportional (MMP) voting |
| Philippines | Congress | Bicameral: House of Representatives & Senate | Inspired by US system |
| Greece | Hellenic Parliament | Unicameral | Known for frequent elections and political instability |
| Portugal | Assembly of the Republic | Unicameral | President has limited role |
| Ireland | Oireachtas | Bicameral: Dáil Éireann & Seanad Éireann | Dáil has more powers than Seanad |
| Kenya | Parliament | Bicameral: National Assembly & Senate | Devolved system with counties |
Unicameral vs Bicameral
| Feature | Unicameral Legislature | Bicameral Legislature |
|---|
| Definition | Legislature with one house or chamber | Legislature with two houses or chambers |
| Examples of Countries | China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Denmark, Sweden | India, USA, UK, Canada, Australia |
| Structure | Single legislative body | Upper House (e.g. Rajya Sabha) and Lower House (e.g. Lok Sabha) |
| Cost | Less expensive to operate | More expensive due to additional house |
| Efficiency | Faster decision-making | Slower due to double review of laws |
| Checks & Balances | Fewer internal checks | Better internal checks between two chambers |
| Suitability | Smaller or unitary countries | Larger or federal countries |
| Indian States Example | Most Indian states (e.g. Kerala, Punjab) | Only 6 states: UP, Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana |
25 MCQs
1. Multiple Choice Question (Standard)
Q1. Which of the following countries has a bicameral legislature?
A. Nepal
B. Bangladesh
C. India
D. Sri Lanka
2. Fill in the Blank
Q2. The Indian Parliament consists of the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and the __________.
3. True or False
Q3. True or False: Rajya Sabha can be dissolved like the Lok Sabha.
4. Match the Following
Q4. Match the countries with the type of legislature:
A. India –
B. USA –
C. Denmark –
D. China –
-
Unicameral
-
Bicameral
-
Federal Parliament
-
National People’s Congress
5. Assertion & Reasoning
Q5.
Assertion (A): Bicameralism helps in checking hasty legislation.
Reason (R): Both houses in a bicameral legislature are directly elected.
Options:
A. Both A and R are true, R is the correct explanation of A
B. Both A and R are true, R is not the correct explanation
C. A is true, R is false
D. A is false, R is true
6. Odd One Out
Q6. Pick the odd one out based on legislature type:
A. USA
B. UK
C. Sweden
D. India
7. Statement-Based MCQ
Q7. Consider the following statements:
-
Rajya Sabha is the Upper House of Parliament.
-
Members of the Rajya Sabha are directly elected.
Which of the statements is/are correct?
A. Only 1
B. Only 2
C. Both
D. Neither
8. Arrange in Sequence
Q8. Arrange the following in descending order of power (India):
-
Rajya Sabha
-
Lok Sabha
-
President
9. Multiple Select Question
Q9. Which of the following have bicameral legislatures?
A. India
B. France
C. Germany
D. China
10. Direct Question
Q10. What is the minimum age to become a member of Rajya Sabha in India?
11. Purpose-Based MCQ
Q11. Why do most federal countries adopt a bicameral legislature?
A. To reduce law-making delays
B. To ensure state representation
C. To save administrative costs
D. To increase centralization
12. Constitution-Based Fill in the Blank
Q12. Article _____ of the Indian Constitution deals with the abolition or creation of Legislative Councils in states.
13. Preamble Connection
Q13. Which principle of the Preamble is best reflected in bicameralism?
A. Justice
B. Liberty
C. Democracy
D. Secularism
14. Process-Based MCQ
Q14. When both houses disagree on a bill, what is the method used to resolve the deadlock?
A. President’s rule
B. Joint sitting
C. Referendum
D. National Emergency
15. Identity Question
Q15. Which house in India is popularly known as the “House of Elders”?
16. Numerical MCQ
Q16. What is the maximum strength of Lok Sabha as per the Constitution?
A. 500
B. 545
C. 552
D. 560
17. Correct Match MCQ
Q17. Which of the following pairs is correctly matched?
A. Vidhan Sabha – Upper House
B. Rajya Sabha – Direct Election
C. Lok Sabha – Lower House
D. House of Lords – Lower House
18. Feature-Based Question
Q18. Which feature makes Rajya Sabha a permanent body?
A. No fixed term
B. Cannot be dissolved
C. Rotation of members
D. Direct election
19. Regional MCQ
Q19. Which South Asian country has a unicameral legislature?
A. India
B. Nepal
C. Maldives
D. Pakistan
20. Riddle Type
Q20. I represent states, am indirectly elected, and never dissolve. Who am I?
21. Procedural MCQ
Q21. To abolish a State Legislative Council, which body must pass a resolution first?
A. Lok Sabha
B. Rajya Sabha
C. State Legislative Assembly
D. President
22. Money Bill Process
Q22. What can Rajya Sabha do when a Money Bill is passed by Lok Sabha?
A. Amend it
B. Reject it
C. Hold it for 14 days
D. Send to President
23. Statement Based (Dual)
Q23.
Statement I: Bicameralism slows down law-making.
Statement II: It improves scrutiny and debate.
Choose:
A. Both true
B. Both false
C. Only I true
D. Only II true
24. Descriptive Format
Q24. Name the house that is: indirectly elected, permanent in nature, and represents the states.
25. Advanced Match the Following
Q25. Match the type of legislature with countries:
A. India –
B. Sweden –
C. USA –
D. Sri Lanka –
-
Bicameral
-
Unicameral
-
Congress
-
Parliament
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