Having only one legislative chamber or house. Nebraska is the only U.S. state with a unicameral legislature, while most democratic systems use bicameral legislatures with two houses.
From Latin 'uni-' (one) and 'camera' (chamber). The term developed alongside 'bicameral' in 18th-century political theory as scholars classified different legislative structures.
Nebraska adopted its unicameral system in 1937 after a fierce campaign led by Senator George Norris, who argued that bicameralism was just an expensive way to do the same job twice—he called the second house as useless 'as a fifth wheel on a wagon,' and Nebraskans agreed!
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