Multicameralism

In contrast to unicameralism, and bicameralism, multicameralism is the condition in which a legislature is divided into more than two deliberative assemblies, which are commonly called "chambers" or "houses".

Nevertheless, many current parliaments and congresses still have a multicameral (usually bicameral) structure, which some claim provides multiple perspectives and a form of separation of powers within the legislature.

[citation needed] Many societies in Medieval Europe had quasi-legislative assemblies in the form of the Estates of the Realm, typified by those of France.

[9] Perhaps the best-known multicameral assembly in modern times is the Tricameral Parliament of the waning days of Apartheid South Africa; established in an effort to stabilize the collapsing Apartheid system, it was intended to give limited representation to the country's Cape Coloured and Indian populations to stabilize white-minority rule.

[citation needed] Advocates of multicameralism also contend that multiple legislative chambers are (best) able to represent the various important sectors of society (such as culturally or linguistically distinct, geographically different or similarly interested populations that comprise a country - i.e. the various states of the United States of America or provinces of Canada, each with their own geographical borders, subcultures, interests and even languages i.e. English, French, Spanish), which may not be able to be adequately represented by a singular legislative body.