Legislative Bodies of Major Countries
Corrected list of parliaments, congresses, assemblies, chambers and constitutional structures for competitive examinations
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Legislative Bodies of Major Countries: Parliaments and Chambers
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This post explains the official legislative bodies of 20 major countries, whether they are unicameral or bicameral, and the names of their chambers. It corrects incomplete answers such as “France – National Assembly” and “Germany – Bundestag.”
This post explains the official legislative bodies of 20 major countries, whether they are unicameral or bicameral, and the names of their chambers. It corrects incomplete answers such as “France – National Assembly” and “Germany – Bundestag.”
Key concept: A unicameral legislature has one chamber. A bicameral legislature has two chambers. Indonesia and Germany require more careful wording than a simple one-line GK answer.
World GKPolitical ScienceParliamentsLegislatures10 MCQs
Updated List of Legislative Bodies
| S.No. | Country | Official Legislature | Structure | Chambers / Components | Important Exam Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States of America | Congress | Bicameral | House of Representatives; Senate | Senate = upper chamber; House of Representatives = lower chamber. |
| 2 | United Kingdom | UK Parliament | Bicameral | House of Commons; House of Lords | The Crown is also a constitutional component of Parliament. |
| 3 | Japan | National Diet (Kokkai) | Bicameral | House of Representatives (Shūgiin); House of Councillors (Sangiin) | National Diet is Japan’s national legislature. |
| 4 | Germany | Federal legislature: German Bundestag and Bundesrat | Federal bicameral system | German Bundestag; Bundesrat (Federal Council) | Writing only “Bundestag” is incomplete for the full federal structure. |
| 5 | France | Parliament (Parlement) | Bicameral | National Assembly; Senate | The National Assembly alone is not the complete Parliament. |
| 6 | Canada | Parliament of Canada | Bicameral | House of Commons; Senate | The Crown is constitutionally part of Parliament. |
| 7 | Australia | Parliament of Australia / Commonwealth Parliament | Bicameral | House of Representatives; Senate | Constitutionally: King, Senate and House of Representatives. |
| 8 | Russian Federation | Federal Assembly | Bicameral | State Duma; Federation Council | State Duma = lower chamber; Federation Council = upper chamber. |
| 9 | Italy | Parliament of the Italian Republic | Bicameral | Chamber of Deputies; Senate of the Republic | Both Houses perform major legislative functions. |
| 10 | Brazil | National Congress | Bicameral | Chamber of Deputies; Federal Senate | Do not confuse National Congress with the Chamber of Deputies alone. |
| 11 | India | Parliament of India (Sansad) | Bicameral | Lok Sabha; Rajya Sabha | Article 79 includes the President and the two Houses. |
| 12 | Republic of Korea (South Korea) | National Assembly | Unicameral | Single chamber: National Assembly | South Korea has a unicameral national legislature. |
| 13 | Mexico | Congress of the Union | Bicameral | Chamber of Deputies; Senate | Spanish: Congreso de la Unión. |
| 14 | Spain | Cortes Generales | Bicameral | Congress of Deputies; Senate | Cortes Generales is the collective legislature name. |
| 15 | South Africa | Parliament | Bicameral | National Assembly; National Council of Provinces | The NCOP represents provincial interests. |
| 16 | Türkiye | Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) | Unicameral | Single chamber: Grand National Assembly | Use the country’s current official English name, Türkiye. |
| 17 | Argentina | National Congress | Bicameral | Chamber of Deputies; Senate | The National Congress has two chambers. |
| 18 | Netherlands | States General | Bicameral | House of Representatives (Second Chamber); Senate (First Chamber) | Dutch: Tweede Kamer and Eerste Kamer. |
| 19 | Sweden | Riksdag | Unicameral | Single chamber: Riksdag | Sweden became unicameral in 1971. |
| 20 | Indonesia | People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) and national representative institutions | Special constitutional structure | MPR comprises members of DPR and DPD | DPR holds the principal law-making power; avoid a simplistic bicameral label. |
Major Corrections Made to the Old Post
| Old or Incomplete Entry | Updated Answer | Why It Was Corrected |
|---|---|---|
| Germany – Bundestag only | German Bundestag and Bundesrat | The Bundesrat represents the Länder and participates in federal legislation. |
| France – National Assembly | Parliament: National Assembly and Senate | The National Assembly is only the lower chamber. |
| India – Parliament without constitutional detail | President, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha | Article 79 includes the President as a constituent part of Parliament. |
| United Kingdom – Parliament as only two Houses | Crown, House of Commons and House of Lords | The two Houses are the chambers; the Crown is constitutionally part of Parliament. |
| Australia – Parliament without the Crown | King, Senate and House of Representatives | Australia’s Constitution defines the federal Parliament in these terms. |
| Indonesia – MPR as an ordinary legislature | MPR comprises DPR and DPD; DPR exercises the main legislative function | Indonesia does not fit a simple upper-house/lower-house model. |
| South Africa – Parliament without chambers | National Assembly and National Council of Provinces | The NCOP is a high-value exam fact. |
| Netherlands – States General without chamber names | Second Chamber and First Chamber | The Dutch numbered chamber names are frequently tested. |
Exam warning: When a question asks for the legislative body, write the collective institutional name. When it asks for the lower or upper chamber, write the chamber name. France’s legislature is Parliament; its lower chamber is the National Assembly.
Important Constitutional Clarifications
India
Article 79: President + Rajya Sabha + Lok Sabha.
Article 79: President + Rajya Sabha + Lok Sabha.
United Kingdom
The Commons and Lords are the two Houses; legislation also requires Royal Assent.
The Commons and Lords are the two Houses; legislation also requires Royal Assent.
Australia
The federal Parliament constitutionally consists of the King, Senate and House of Representatives.
The federal Parliament constitutionally consists of the King, Senate and House of Representatives.
Germany
The Bundestag is directly elected; the Bundesrat represents the Länder.
The Bundestag is directly elected; the Bundesrat represents the Länder.
France
Parliament = National Assembly + Senate.
Parliament = National Assembly + Senate.
Indonesia
MPR comprises DPR and DPD members; DPR has the principal law-making function.
MPR comprises DPR and DPD members; DPR has the principal law-making function.
Netherlands
Second Chamber = House of Representatives; First Chamber = Senate.
Second Chamber = House of Representatives; First Chamber = Senate.
South Africa
The NCOP represents provinces.
The NCOP represents provinces.
Memory Tricks
DIET – JAPAN: National Diet = House of Representatives + House of Councillors.
FEDERAL PAIR: Germany = Bundestag + Bundesrat; Russia = State Duma + Federation Council.
CONGRESS GROUP: USA = Congress; Brazil and Argentina = National Congress; Mexico = Congress of the Union.
EUROPEAN SPECIAL NAMES: Spain = Cortes Generales; Netherlands = States General; Sweden = Riksdag.
FEDERAL PAIR: Germany = Bundestag + Bundesrat; Russia = State Duma + Federation Council.
CONGRESS GROUP: USA = Congress; Brazil and Argentina = National Congress; Mexico = Congress of the Union.
EUROPEAN SPECIAL NAMES: Spain = Cortes Generales; Netherlands = States General; Sweden = Riksdag.
Quick Revision
- USA – Congress
- United Kingdom – UK Parliament
- Japan – National Diet
- Germany – Bundestag and Bundesrat
- France – Parliament
- Canada – Parliament of Canada
- Australia – Parliament of Australia
- Russia – Federal Assembly
- Italy – Parliament
- Brazil – National Congress
- India – Parliament / Sansad
- South Korea – National Assembly
- Mexico – Congress of the Union
- Spain – Cortes Generales
- South Africa – Parliament
- Türkiye – Grand National Assembly
- Argentina – National Congress
- Netherlands – States General
- Sweden – Riksdag
- Indonesia – MPR, DPR and DPD structure
10 MCQs
Select any option. The correct answer and explanation will appear immediately.
MCQ 1 of 10
What is the legislature of the United States?
Correct Answer: B. Congress
Congress consists of the House of Representatives and Senate.
Congress consists of the House of Representatives and Senate.
MCQ 2 of 10
Which two bodies form France’s Parliament?
Correct Answer: A. National Assembly and Senate
France has a bicameral Parliament.
France has a bicameral Parliament.
MCQ 3 of 10
The National Diet is the legislature of:
Correct Answer: A. Japan
Japan’s legislature is the National Diet.
Japan’s legislature is the National Diet.
MCQ 4 of 10
Which body represents Germany’s Länder?
Correct Answer: B. Bundesrat
The Bundesrat represents the Länder.
The Bundesrat represents the Länder.
MCQ 5 of 10
Article 79 says Indian Parliament consists of:
Correct Answer: C. President, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
The President is constitutionally part of Parliament.
The President is constitutionally part of Parliament.
MCQ 6 of 10
Which country has the Cortes Generales?
Correct Answer: B. Spain
Spain’s legislature is the Cortes Generales.
Spain’s legislature is the Cortes Generales.
MCQ 7 of 10
The National Council of Provinces belongs to:
Correct Answer: C. South Africa
It is South Africa’s provincial chamber.
It is South Africa’s provincial chamber.
MCQ 8 of 10
Which is unicameral?
Correct Answer: B. Sweden’s Riksdag
The Swedish Riksdag is unicameral.
The Swedish Riksdag is unicameral.
MCQ 9 of 10
The State Duma belongs to:
Correct Answer: B. Russian Federation
It is the lower chamber of Russia’s Federal Assembly.
It is the lower chamber of Russia’s Federal Assembly.
MCQ 10 of 10
Which Indonesia statement is accurate?
Correct Answer: C. MPR comprises DPR and DPD members; DPR has the principal legislative role
Indonesia has a special constitutional arrangement.
Indonesia has a special constitutional arrangement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between unicameral and bicameral?
A unicameral legislature has one chamber. A bicameral legislature has two chambers.
Is the National Assembly the full legislature of France?
No. France’s Parliament consists of the National Assembly and Senate.
Is the Bundestag the complete German legislature?
The Bundestag is the directly elected chamber; the Bundesrat also participates in federal legislation.
What are the two Houses of the Indian Parliament?
Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Article 79 also includes the President as part of Parliament.
What is Japan’s Parliament called?
Japan’s national legislature is the National Diet or Kokkai.
Which entries are unicameral?
South Korea, Türkiye and Sweden are clear unicameral examples in this list.
Why is Indonesia treated separately?
MPR comprises DPR and DPD members, but DPR exercises the principal law-making power.
Related Study Links
Official and Reliable Sources
- Inter-Parliamentary Union – Parline
- United States Congress
- UK Parliament
- Japan House of Representatives
- German Bundestag
- German Bundesrat
- French National Assembly
- French Senate
- Parliament of Australia
- Parliament of India
- Parliament of South Africa
- Swedish Riksdag
- People’s Consultative Assembly of Indonesia
- House of Representatives of Indonesia
Student takeaway: Learn the collective legislature name, whether it is unicameral or bicameral, and the names of its chambers.
Prepared by Learn With Mahesh
Please add useful verified corrections or additional legislative bodies in the comment box.
Please add useful verified corrections or additional legislative bodies in the comment box.
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