In a modern
democracy, the group of
elected representatives who exercise the
legislative power. In some
countries, the legislative assembly is split in two groups or houses
?, the second of which (sometimes called the Senate
?, as in
France and the
United States) is composed of more experienced statesmen
? and is supposed to act as a moderating influence on the first assembly. In most
countries, the
head of state has the right to veto
? laws passed by the legislative assembly.