Bicameralism in a Federation: An Historical Analysis of Role of Senate in Promoting Federalism in Pakistan

Abstract

Bicameralism is an essential feature of federalism. It is indispensable for a federation to safeguard the rights of smaller units and to accommodate the diversity in the legislature. For this purpose, the upper house of the bicameral legislature, known variously including the Senate, provides a feasible platform to the units for representation on the principle of equality. Therefore, it is almost evitable for all federations, to have the upper house. Pakistan adopted bicameralism in 1973, though it became a federation in 1947 but remained under a unicameral legislature according to early two constitutions (of 1956 and 1962) which severely compromised the basic essentials of federalism. However, the Constitution of 1973 finally provided a bicameral legislature for the development of federalism. Even then the country could not flourish as a true federation and the Senate could not perform its basic functions well. What actually have been the lacunas in the working of the Senate and what can be the possible remedies for them, this study aims to investigate the answers to such questions. ______