The Legislative Branch

Article VI
• Article VI, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution states that:
“The legislative power shall be vested in the Congress of
the Philippines which shall consist of a Senate and a House of
Representatives…”

House of Senate
CONGRESS of
the Philippines
House of
Representatives
• The Congress of the Philippines is the country's highest
lawmaking body.

• The Legislative branch is authorized to make or enact laws or

legislations, or alter, and repeal them.
The House of Senate
 COMPOSITION
• The Senate shall be composed of twenty-four (24) Senators who shall
be elected at large by the qualified voters of the Philippines.
(Section 2, Article VI, 1987 Constitution)

QUALIFICATIONS
1. a natural-born citizen of the Philippines;
2. at least thirty-five years old;
3. is able to read and write;
4. a registered voter; and
5. a resident of the Philippines for not less than two years before the
election day. (Section 3, Article VI, 1987 Constitution)
 TERM OF OFFICE

• The term of office of the Senators shall be six (6) years and shall
commence at noon on the 30th day of June next following their
election.
• No Senator shall serve for more than two (2) consecutive terms.
(Section 2, Article VI, 1987 Constitution)
The House of Representatives
 COMPOSITION
• The House of Representatives shall be composed of not more than two
hundred and fifty (250) 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. (Section 5, Article VI, 1987 Constitution)

• The district congressmen represent a particular congressional district of

the country. All provinces and cities in the country are composed of at least
one congressional district, with some having two or more representatives.
 COMPOSITION
• The party-list representatives shall constitute twenty percent (20%) of
the total number of representatives including those under the party
list.
• The party-list congressmen represent the minority sectors, which
enables these minority groups to be represented in the Congress
(peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, women,
youth, and such other sectors as may be provided by law, except the
religious sector). (Section 5, Article VI, 1987 Constitution)

• There are 243 legislative districts in the country. You live in one of these districts along with
about 250,000 other people!
• There are 243 representatives elected by district. In addition, there are Representatives
elected through the party-list system who constitute not more than twenty percent (20%) of
the total number of Representatives.
 QUALIFICATIONS
1. a natural-born citizen of the Philippines;
2. at least twenty-five years old;
3. is able to read and write; and
4. except the party-list representatives, a registered voter and a resident for at
least one year in the district where s/he shall be elected.

TERM OF OFFICE

• The Members of the House of Representatives shall be elected for a

term of three (3) years which shall begin at noon on the 30th day of
June next following their election.
• No Member of the House of Representatives shall serve for more
than three (3) consecutive terms. (Section 2, Article VI, 1987 Constitution)
Legislative Process
 BILLS

• Bills are laws in the making. They pass into law when they are:
1. approved by both houses; and
2. the President of the Philippines

• There is no limit to the number of bills a member may introduce. A

bill may have joint sponsorship and carry several members' names
(Principal Author, Co-author, Sponsor, etc.).
 HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
• After a bill is passed in both Houses, it will be submitted to the President of the
Philippines for his approval or disapproval.
• A bill may be vetoed (disapproved) by the President, but the Congress may
override a presidential veto by garnering a two-thirds (2/3) vote from both
houses voting separately, and after which the bill becomes law.
• If the bill is approved by the President, the same is assigned an R.A. number and
transmitted to the House where it originated. If the bill is vetoed, the same,
together with a message citing the reason for the veto, is transmitted to the
House where the bill originated.
• If the President does not act on a proposed law submitted by Congress after 30
days from its receipt, the bill will automatically become a law, as if he had signed
it (Section 27, Article VI, 1987 Constitution).
 STEPS IN THE PASSAGE OF A BILL

1. First Reading
2. Referral to Appropriate Committee
3. Second Reading
4. Debates
5. Printing and Distribution
6. Third Reading
7. Referral to the Other House
8. Submission to Joint Bicameral Committee
9. Submission to the President
Other Powers and Responsibilities of the
Legislative Department Aside from
Lawmaking
• Congress has the power to remove from office impeachable government
officials, including the
o President,
o Vice President,
o Members of the Supreme Court,
o Members of the Constitutional Commissions, and
o The Ombudsman.
• The House of Representatives can tackle impeachment complaints and submit
the resolution setting the Articles of Impeachment. The Senate, meanwhile,
decides on cases of impeachment in a full-blown trial.
• Congress has the “sole power to declare the existence of a state of war,”
according to Section 23, Article VI of the Constitution. A vote of two-thirds of
both Houses, voting separately, is needed.
• Congress can revoke the President’s proclamation of martial law by a vote of at
least a majority of all members of the Senate and the Representatives. Congress
can also extend the period of martial law beyond the mandated 60 days.
• Congress may authorize the President to exercise powers to carry out a declared
national policy “for a limited period and subject to restrictions" in times of war
or other national emergency.
• Congressional committees can conduct hearings "in aid of legislation” on various
issues that affect the nation and release a report based on findings. (For
example, the Senate committee in August 2018 conducted a hearing on the
TRAIN law's impact on inflation amid rising prices of commodities.)
• A Senator or Member of the House of Representatives shall, in all offenses
punishable by not more than six years imprisonment, be privileged from arrest
while the Congress is in session.
end of lesson 6
References:

• https://www.inkl.com/news/list-senate-committee-chairmanships-for-the-18th-congress
• https://www.rappler.com/nation/batasan-house-representatives-new-media-rules
• https://www.congress.gov.ph/legisinfo/?v=students
• https://pcw.gov.ph/republic-act-7941-party-list-system-act/
• https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1120850/how-it-works-party-list-seat-allocation-in-the-house
• https://www.congress.gov.ph/legisinfo/?v=process#PREPARE
• https://www.congress.gov.ph/legisinfo/?v=students
• https://mirror.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/the-1987-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-
philippines/the-1987-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines-article-vi/
• https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/the-1987-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-
philippines/the-1987-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines-article-vi/