lower house (of parliament, congress, diet)
Refers to the lower chamber in a bicameral legislature, such as the House of Representatives in Japan or the House of Commons in the UK. Often contrasted with 議会上院 (upper house).
See also: 議会上院
The lower house of Japan's parliament is called the House of Representatives.
The lower house election will be held next month.
議会上院 is the upper house, while 議会下院 is the lower house. In Japan, the upper house is the House of Councillors (参議院).
衆議院 is the specific name for Japan's lower house. 議会下院 is a more generic term applicable to any country's lower house.
Compound of 議会 (parliament, congress) + 下院 (lower house). 下院 itself is composed of 下 (lower) and 院 (institution, house).