Final answer:
The US Congress is a symmetric bicameral legislature, consisting of two chambers with similar powers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. It represents both the population and the states, balancing larger and smaller states' interests.
Step-by-step explanation:
The US Congress is an example of a symmetric bicameral legislature. This means that it has two chambers, the House of Representatives and the Senate, which share similar powers and responsibilities. The bicameral nature of Congress was a compromise to balance the interests of larger and smaller states at the time of its creation. In this structure, the House of Representatives is designed to represent the population, with larger states receiving more representatives, while the Senate ensures equal representation for each state, regardless of size, with two senators apiece.
Bicameral legislatures generally serve to make the legislative process more comprehensive, as they require collaboration between two bodies with distinct characteristics and can help produce more thoughtful legislation. The bicameral system of the US Congress also serves to give voice to different segments of society and was intended to correct weaknesses from the previous unicameral system under the Articles of Confederation.