A bicameral legislature consists of two separate chambers, typically an upper and a lower house, each with distinct responsibilities and powers, enhancing checks and balances in governance. A prominent example is the U.S. Congress, which includes the Senate and the House of Representatives. In contrast, a unicameral legislature has a single chamber, simplifying the law-making process. Countries like Norway utilize unicameral systems, enabling quicker legislative action, but potentially sacrificing thorough debate and representation found in bicameral systems.