One basic corollary in a presidential system of government is the principle of separation

of powers wherein legislation belongs to Congress, execution to the Executive, and

settlement of legal controversies to the Judiciary.

 The Legislative branch is authorized to make laws, alter, and repeal them
through the power vested in the Philippine Congress. This institution is divided
into the Senate and the House of Representatives.
 The Executive branch carries out laws. It is composed of the President and the
Vice President who are elected by direct popular vote and serve a term of six
years. The Constitution grants the President authority to appoint his Cabinet.
These departments form a large portion of the country’s bureaucracy.
 The Judicial branch evaluates laws. It holds the power to settle controversies
involving rights that are legally demandable and enforceable. This branch
determines whether or not there has been a grave abuse of discretion amounting
to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part and instrumentality of the
government. It is made up of a Supreme Court and lower courts.
Each branch of government can change acts of the other branches as follows:

 The President can veto laws passed by Congress.

 Congress confirms or rejects the President's appointments and can remove the
President from office in exceptional circumstances.
 The Justices of the Supreme Court, who can overturn unconstitutional laws, are
appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

The Philippine government seeks to act in the best interests of its citizens through this
system of checks and balances.

The Constitution expressly grants the Supreme Court the power of Judicial Review as the
power to declare a treaty, international or executive agreement, law, presidential decree,
proclamation, order, instruction, ordinance or regulation unconstitutional.

Legislative Department
The Legislative Branch enacts legislation, confirms or rejects Presidential appointments,
and has the authority to declare war. This branch includes Congress (the Senate and
House of Representatives) and several agencies that provide support services to
Congress.

 Senate – The Senate shall be composed of twenty-four Senators who shall be

elected at large by the qualified voters of the Philippines, as may be provided by
law.
 House of Representatives – The House of Representatives shall be composed of
not more than two hundred and fifty members, unless otherwise fixed by law,
who shall be elected from legislative districts apportioned among the provinces,
cities, and the Metropolitan Manila area in accordance with the number of their
respective inhabitants, and on the basis of a uniform and progressive ratio, and
those who, as provided by law, shall be elected through a party-list system of
registered national, regional, and sectoral parties or organizations.

The party-list representatives shall constitute twenty per cent of the total number of
representatives including those under the party list. For three consecutive terms after
the ratification of this Constitution, one-half of the seats allocated to party-list
representatives shall be filled, as provided by law, by selection or election from the
labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, women, youth, and such
other sectors as may be provided by law, except the religious sector.
Executive Department
The executive branch carries out and enforces laws. It includes the President, Vice
President, the Cabinet, executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards,
commissions, and committees.

Key roles of the executive branch include:

 President – The President leads the country. He/she is the head of state, leader of
the national government, and Commander in Chief of all armed forces of the
Philippines. The President serves a six-year term and cannot be re-elected.
 Vice President – The Vice President supports the President. If the President is
unable to serve, the Vice President becomes President. He/she serves a six-year
term.
 The Cabinet – Cabinet members serve as advisors to the President. They include
the Vice President and the heads of executive departments. Cabinet members are
nominated by the President and must be confirmed by the Commission of
Appointments.

Judicial Department
The judicial branch interprets the meaning of laws, applies laws to individual cases, and
decides if laws violate the Constitution. The judicial power shall be vested in
one Supreme Court and in such lower courts as may be established by law.

Judicial power includes the duty of the courts of justice to settle actual controversies
involving rights which are legally demandable and enforceable, and to determine
whether or not there has been a grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess
of jurisdiction on the part of any branch or instrumentality of the Government. The
judicial branch interprets the meaning of laws, applies laws to individual cases, and
decides if laws violate the Constitution.