Final answer:
Under the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, a bicameral legislative refers to the establishment of a two-chamber legislature within a territory that could occur once the population exceeded 60,000 white male inhabitants. This system mirrors the bicameral nature of the U.S. Congress and provided a balanced approach to representation and self-governance for new states.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was a pivotal piece of legislation that outlined the process for establishing governments in the northwest territories and the admission of new states into the Union. It specified that once a territory reached a certain population threshold, it could establish a bicameral legislative body. This means that the legislature would consist of two separate chambers or houses, reflecting a form of compromise to balance the representation of smaller and larger states, a concept inspired in part by the bicameral nature of Congress established under the U.S. Constitution.
In the context of the Northwest Ordinance, the shift to a bicameral legislature occurred when the population of a territory exceeded 60,000 white male inhabitants. They could then draft a state constitution, apply for statehood, and establish a legislature that typically included an upper and lower chamber, similar to the U.S. Congress with its Senate and House of Representatives. This bicameral system was designed to ensure a more balanced representation and was a significant step in the move towards self-government, distinguishing from the previous unicameral system under the Articles of Confederation.