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The term bicameral legislative branch refers to a government structure that consists of two separate chambers or houses. This concept was established by the Great Compromise during the Constitutional Convention of 1787, where it was agreed that the legislature would be divided into two bodies: the House of Representatives and the Senate.

This structure was designed to balance the representation of both populous states, which would have representation based on their population in the House, and less populous states, which would have equal representation with two senators per state in the Senate. This compromise was crucial in addressing the conflicting interests of large and small states, ensuring that both had a voice in the legislative process and thereby fostering cooperation among the states in the new federal system.

In contrast, a government with a single chamber would be referred to as a unicameral system, while methods of direct democracy and forms of executive power pertain to different branches of government and decision-making processes.