What does the term "bicameral" refer to in the context of Congress?

The term "bicameral" refers specifically to a legislative system that consists of two separate chambers or houses. In the context of Congress, it denotes the two distinct bodies: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Each house has its own rules, structure, and responsibilities, allowing for a division of legislative power and reflecting a more comprehensive representation of the electorate's interests. This structure promotes thorough debate and consideration of legislation, as proposed laws must be approved by both chambers before becoming law.

The other options do not accurately reflect the meaning of "bicameral." A single legislative body would be described as unicameral, a system of checks and balances refers to the way power is distributed among different branches of government rather than the structure of one legislative body, and equal representation for all states specifically describes the Senate's function rather than the bicameral nature of Congress as a whole.