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This paper will first briefly examine bicameral chambers and address the benefits of allowing an upper chamber to select an executive. Next, it will highlight several countries that allow the upper house input in selecting executives to demonstrate how these upper chambers contribute to that process. I organized each of my sample countries into five categories; 1) The U.S. Contingent Election Model; 2) the German model; 3) the National-Regional model; 4) the Federal Chambers Model; 5) and the Swiss Bicameral Model. Finally, the paper will conclude by discussing several benefits of allowing upper chambers to participate in the executive selection process while simultaneously addressing the structural challenges that may limit their beneficial impact on the selection process. In contrast to bicameral legislatures, with two chambers, unicameral legislatures consist of only one house or assembly that legislates and votes as one.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Under this proposed system, Congress would require the \u201cconsent\u201d of the state legislatures before exercising legislative authority directly upon individuals.22 Footnote1 The Records of The Federal Convention of 1787, supra note 2, at 243\u2013244. Smaller states generally supported the New Jersey Plan because they did not favor a major departure from the Articles or proportional representation in Congress based on state size.23 FootnoteFarrand, supra note 16, at 84\u201385; 1 The Records of The Federal Convention of 1787, supra note 2, at 242. John Dickinson, a delegate from Delaware, reportedly remarked to James Madison, a delegate from Virginia, that the smaller states \u201cwould sooner submit to a foreign power\u201d rather than be deprived of an equal vote in both chambers of Congress. The bicameral plan is usually found in federal governments, such as those of the United States, Australia, Brazil, and Canada, and in quasi-federal governments, such as those of Germany and India. Most bicameral legislatures are created to operate outside of the executive branch as a function of the separation of power, but some have influence over selecting a state\u2019s executives. This paper will evaluate several bicameral legislatures to determine how the upper chamber and lower chamber can contribute to choosing a nation\u2019s executive.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
In debating the new structure of Congress, the Convention considered several proposals.13 FootnoteSee, e.g., id. at 20\u201322 (The Virginia Plan); id. at 242\u201345 (The New Jersey Plan); id. at 23 (The Pinkney Plan). Much of the debate focused on two proposals\u2014the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan.14 FootnoteNew York v. United States, 505 U.S. 144, 164 (1992). Virginia Governor Edmund Randolph presented the Virginia Plan that proposed three separate branches of government\u2014legislative, executive, and judicial.15 Footnote1 The Records of The Federal Convention of 1787, supra note 2, at 21\u201322.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Legislative Branch under the Virginia Plan would consist of a bicameral body in which each state would have a different number of representatives based on the state\u2019s population.16 FootnoteId. Historians have noted how many states have bicameral legislature<\/a> that the original Virginia Plan was drafted by James Madison. Max Farrand, The Framing of the Constitution of the United States 68\u201369 (1913). The Virginia Plan went through various revisions and amendments before it was finalized and adopted at the Convention.<\/p>\n<\/p>\nHistory of bicameral legislatures<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n