bicameral
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Consisting of two chambers or compartments: Used to describe a physical structure, especially in biology, that is divided into two separate sections or cavities.
- Composed of two legislative bodies: Used in a political context to describe a government legislature that is divided into two separate assemblies or houses, such as a senate and a house of representatives.
Usage Examples
Adjective (Physical Structure):
- The bicameral heart of a fish pumps blood in a specific pattern.
- Some ancient tombs were designed with a bicameral layout.
Adjective (Legislative System):
- The United States Congress is a bicameral legislature.
- Many countries have adopted a bicameral system to balance regional and population-based representation.
Advanced Usage
"bicameral system": A specific term for a governmental structure with two legislative chambers.
- Debates about the efficiency of a bicameral system are common in political science.
"bicameral mind": A theoretical concept in psychology and neuroscience, suggesting the two hemispheres of the brain house separate consciousnesses or modes of thought.
- The controversial theory of the bicameral mind was proposed by Julian Jaynes.
Variants and Related Words
Unicameral (adj): Consisting of a single legislative chamber.
- Nebraska has a unicameral legislature.
Bicameralism (n): The principle or practice of having a legislature divided into two chambers.
- Bicameralism is a key feature of federal systems of government.
Synonyms
- Two-chambered: Having two chambers (used for both physical and political contexts).
- Divided legislature: A descriptive phrase for a two-house political system.
Antonyms
- Unicameral: Consisting of one chamber.
- Unitary: Often used to describe a single, centralized governing body, in contrast to a divided one.
Adjective
- consisting of two chambers
- the bicameral heart of a fish
- composed of two legislative bodies