What does the term "bicameral legislature" refer to?

The term "bicameral legislature" specifically refers to a legislative body that is divided into two separate chambers or houses. This structure is exemplified by the U.S. Congress, which is composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Each chamber has its own unique powers, responsibilities, and methods of representation, allowing for a system of checks and balances within the legislative process.

This dual-chamber system is designed to ensure broader representation and prevent the potential concentration of power. The Senate represents states equally regardless of population size, while the House of Representatives allocates seats based on population, thus enabling both geographic and demographic representation in the legislative process.

In contrast, other options describe different forms of legislative structures that do not align with the definition of "bicameral." For example, a legislature with three houses would be referred to as a tricameral legislature, while a single-house body is termed a unicameral legislature. A system of legislative representation based solely on population pertains more to the method of allocating seats within a legislature, rather than describing the number of chambers in the legislative structure itself.