What term describes a legislature with two houses?

The term that describes a legislature with two houses is 'bicameral.' This structure typically consists of an upper house and a lower house, which may have different functions, powers, or methods of selection for their members. In the context of the United States, most state legislatures, including Missouri's, follow this bicameral format, comprising a House of Representatives and a Senate.

Having two chambers allows for a system of checks and balances within the legislative process, fostering more thorough debate and consideration of proposed laws. The bicameral legislature enables different perspectives to be represented, as each chamber may cater to different constituencies or priorities.

In contrast, a unicameral legislature has only one chamber, and a multicameral or tricameral legislature would contain more than two chambers, which is less common in practice. The distinction of 'bicameral' highlights the dual-chamber system's significance in promoting diverse representation and legislative scrutiny.