HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW

SENATE
1

Preparation of bill

HOUSE
1

> Drafting of bill by the Senator (through

either his staff or a proponent)

> Drafting of bill by the Representative (through

either his staff or a proponent)

> Filing of bill

> Filing of bill

* the bill is assigned a number

* the bill is assigned a number

First Reading in Plenary

> Committee Referral

3

Preparation of bill

Committee consideration/action

First Reading in Plenary

> Committee Referral

Committee consideration/action

> Committee Hearing(s)

> Committee Hearing(s)

> Technical Working Group (if necessary

to consolidate several versions)

> Technical Working Group (if necessary to

consolidate several versions)
* The hearing is conducted by the Mother
Committee (primary committee
referral) then by the Committee on Appropriation
and Ways and Means Committee if there are
pertinent approrpriatiion provision and provisions
that will impact on government revenues,
respectively.

> Drafting of Committee Report

> Drafting of Committee Report

> Filing of Committee Report (after

aproval by majority of Members)

> Filing of Committee Report (after aproval by

majority of Members)

* the Committee Report/ Substitute bill is

assigned a number

* the Committee Report/ Substitute bill is assigned

a number

Plenary consideration/ Second Reading

Plenary consideration/ Second Reading

> Sponsorship of Committee Chairperson

and co-authors/co-sponsors

> Sponsorship of Committee Chairperson and coauthors/co-sponsors

> Interpellations by members of Senate

> Interpellations by members of the House of

Representatives

> Period of Amendments

> Period of Amendments

Committee amendments

Committee amendments

Individual amendments

Individual amendments

> Second reading through voting by

members of Senate

> Second reading through voting by members of

the House of Representatives

* Second reading approval may be reconsidered to allow perfecting/

* Second reading approval may be re-considered

to allow perfecting/

additional amendments in plenary or CR

may be re-committed to the

additional amendments in plenary or CR may be

re-committed to the

Mother Committee

Mother Committee

Plenary consideration/ Third Reading

> Third reading of the bill through voting

by members of Senate

> Third reading of the bill through voting by

members of the House of Representatives

* Approval on Third Reading takes place 3

session days after distribution of copies of
approved on Second reading version to
the Members except if the

* Approval on Third Reading takes place 3 session

days after distribution of copies of approved on
Second reading version to the Members except if
the

bill was certified urgent by the President in

which case the 3 days is dispensed with.

bill was certified urgent by the President in which

case the 3 days is dispensed with.

Sent to House of Representatives for

concurrence

> if House of Rep still has no counterpart

bill that has been acted on, then this bill
undergoes the usual process of legislation
7

Consolidation of Senate and House version

Sent to the Senate for concurrence

> if Senate still has no counterpart bill that has
been acted on, then this bill undergoes the usual
process of legislation

Consolidation of House and Senate version

> if compatible, then versions are

consolidated into one enrolled bill

> if compatible, then versions are consolidated

into one enrolled bill

> if there are differences, a BICAMERAL

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE is formed to
reconcile conflicting provisions*

> if there are differences, a BICAMERAL

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE is formed to reconcile
conflicting provisions

Filing/ Ratification of Conference

Committee Report by both Chambers

Preparation and Printing of Enrolled Bill

10

Plenary consideration/ Third Reading

Filing/ Ratification of Conference Committee

Report by both Chambers

Transmittal of Enrolled Bill to the President for approval

> if signed, then bill becomes LAW
> if vetoed, then bill is returned to Congress
if Senate decides to override veto, then a 2/3 vote of all members must be obtained, PROVIDED
that the House of Representatives likewise follows this condition
> if President fails to communicate his veto of the bill within 30 days after receipt thereof, the bill
shall lapse into law
* Note: Bicam Committee can come up with a bill different from the Senate and the House
(Tolentino vs. Sec. of Finance)