1.

ONE BASIC COROLLARY IN A PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT

IS THE PRINCIPLE OF SEPARATION OF POWERS WHEREIN LEGISLATION
BELONGS TO CONGRESS, EXECUTIVE, AND
EXECUTION TO THE
SETTLEMENT OF LEGAL CONTROVERSIES TO THE JUDICIARY.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. EACH BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT CAN CHANGE ACTS OF THE OTHER
BRANCHES AS FOLLOWS:
6. THE PRESIDENT CAN VETO LAWS PASSED BY CONGRESS.
7. CONGRESS CONFIRMS OR REJECTS THE PRESIDENT'S APPOINTMENTS
AND CAN REMOVE THE PRESIDENT FROM OFFICE IN EXCEPTIONAL
CIRCUMSTANCES.
8. THE JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT, WHO CAN OVERTURN
UNCONSTITUTIONAL LAWS, ARE APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT AND
CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE.
9. THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT SEEKS TO ACT IN THE BEST
INTERESTS OF ITS CITIZENS THROUGH THIS SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND
BALANCES.
10. 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. 

11. LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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.

16. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

17. 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.
18. KEY ROLES OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH INCLUDE:
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. 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.

22. JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT

23. 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.
24. 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.