Abstract
Federations establish power-sharing instituions at the federal level to empower the minority
groups. Federal bicameralism is a part of power-sharing mechanisms that promote the
shared-rule through allocating equal represention to the minority groups/provinces in the
Second Chamber of the Parliament. Though, the federal bicameralism has now become a
norm in the contemporary federal experiences, its strength varies across cases. The Pakistani
Federation had adopted bicameral legislature in the 1973 Constituion but owing to the
parliamentary nature of system, the directly elected Lower House has played an unparalleled
role in the legislative and oversight business of the Parliament. However, despite of its lesser
role in the polity, the minority groups envision the Senate as a forum that empowers them at
the federal level. What the findings about oversight functions of the Senate illustrate is that
the Senators belonging to smaller provinces are more vigorous than the Punjabi Senators, by
submitting more questions, adjournment motions and call attention motions in the house,
which in many ways reflect a more nuanced territorial role of the Senate. Conversely, the
voting patterns and party discipline in the House lessen the territorial role of the Senate. But,
as the smaller units have a larger voice in the House and the Senate is asserting for greater
role, it is more likely that it would dispense more meaningful role in the years ahead.
