Second chambers in Europe: who or what should they represent?

from Franziska Carstensen

DOI: 10.36206/BP2020.06

Bicameral parliamentary structures exist in around half of all European states. Although decisions made by second chambers can have a significant impact on the political process, they are not often at the centre of public attention. In particular, little is known about how representation in second chambers is pre-structured by legal requirements. This Focus on Europe addresses this gap and asks how representation in second chambers is standardised under constitutional law, which modes of appointment exist, but also which minimum age requirements, mandate durations, personnel sizes and partial renewal options are provided for through (in)direct elections. Another point of interest is whether European second chambers are equipped with specialised representation for certain population groups in order to mitigate the representation deficits of the first chambers. To summarise, an initial picture of European second chambers can be drawn that does not meet all the expectations of the research.