Considerations on the bicameral parliamentary system in Romania

• Author: Mihaela Adina Apostolache
• Position: Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti, Economics
• Pages: 61-68

Considerations on the bicameral parliamentary system in Romania

Lecturer Mihaela Adina APOSTOLACHE1

Abstract

The study approaches the way Romanian bicameralism functions, considering

both its strengths and weaknesses. In addition, the unicameral parliamentary system is

presented in relation to the bicameral one.

In the doctrine, there are several opinions according to which bicameralism is

preferred to unicameralism, because the two Houses provide increased safety, as the

concentration of legislative power in one place could be both dangerous and, often,

unjustified. But the two Chambers should not be similar, as this would not serve their

guaranteeing purpose. Furthermore, bicameralism consolidates the balance and solidity of

democratic regimes, providing a better separation of powers.

Keywords: Parliament, bicameralism, unicameralism, competences,

representativity, constitutional changes.

JEL Classification: K30

I. Preliminaries

One of the emerging concerns in recent years in our country has centered

around the discussions on changing the Romanian parliamentary system. This was

caused by the low level of confidence that the citizens have in the supreme

legislative body and brought to attention the decrease of MPs number and the

introduction of the unicameral parliamentary system. Most of the opinions have

reinforced the belief that for now, there should be kept the current bicameral

system, but with some minor modifications.

The principle option between bicameralism and unicameralism depends on

how the separation of powers is understood2. In the Romanian doctrine and

jurisprudence, there has manifested the tendency to reduce the separation of powers

whenever including each organ or organ system in the exercise of one of the three

basic functions of government - legislative, executive and judicial - without being

able to cumulate these functions. They follow Montesquieu's logic: those who have

power tend to abuse it, but one power must stop another (”le pouvoire arrête le

pouvoire”).

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1 Mihaela Adina Apostolache – Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti, Economics, Marketing and

Business Administration Department, mihapostolache@yahoo.com

2 Dan Claudiu Dănişor, O dispută între doi clasici: Tudor Drăganu şi Antonie Iorgovan despre

bicameralism, in ”Revista de Drept Public”, no. 3/2010, p. 18.