POLITICS

AND GOVERNANCE

LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT
TOPIC
 OVERVIEW:
 CONGRESS: THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT IN THE
PHILIPPINES
 PURPOSE, FUNCTION AND STRUCTURE OF CONGRESS
 CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATES WITH RESPECT TO CONGRESS

WHAT IS LEGISLATIVE?
 From the latin LEX, LEGIS meaning LAW
 The legislative branch broadly deals with the MAKING,
DELIBERATION OVER, ENACTMENT, AMENDMENT and REPEALING
of laws.

BASIC STRUCTURES OF LEGISLATIVE

UNICAMERAL
 The legislative branch consist of ONE
CHAMBER/HOUSE

BICAMERAL
 Legislative power is vested in TWO CHAMBER/HOUSES

THE PHILIPPINE CONGRESS

The PHILIPPINE CONGRESS is the country’s LEGISLATIVE
DEPARTMENT (Art. VI, Sec.1)
 Congress is BICAMERAL
Upper House: SENATE
Lower House: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE

ARTICLE VI SECTION 1
 The legislative power shall be vested in the Congress of the
Philippines which shall consist of a Senate and a House of
Representatives, except to the extent reserved to the people by
the provision on initiative and referendum.

WHAT IS SENATE?
Composition :
24 Senators elected at large by the qualified voters of the
Philippines (Art. VI Sec. 2)
Qualification :
Natural-born citizen
At least 35 years old on election day
Literate (can read and write)
Registered Voter
Philippine resident for 2 years prior to election day (Art. VI Sec. 3)
Term of Office :
6 years
No Senator shall serve for more than two consecutive terms (Art.
VI Sec. 4)