PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE Should there be any questions pertaining to the election, the Supreme Court shall
o the election, the Supreme Court shall be the
LESSON 6: EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT
The Philippines has a presidential, unitary, and republican system of government.
Under a presidential system of government, the executive, legislative, and judiciary
branches are separate and distinct from each other.
The Executive
The structure, organization, powers, responsibilities, and prohibitions of the executive
branch are provided under Article VII of the 1987 Constitution. Section 1 states that the
“executive power is vested in the President of the Philippines.”
Qualifications, Election, and Terms of Office
one to settle questions about the election, returns, and qualifications of these officials.
As provided by Article VII, Section 4: “the Supreme Court, sitting en banc, is the sole judge
of all contests relating to the election, returns, and qualifications of the President or Vice
President.” The Supreme Court serves as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.
Powers of the President
The Philippine president is granted specific powers by the Constitution. The following are
some of his or her powers:
● Control over all executive departments, bureaus, and offices
● Power of general supervision over local governments and autonomous regions
● Power to nominate, appoint, and remove officials
● Budgetary and fiscal power
● Military power
● Power to contract or guarantee foreign loans on behalf of the country
● Pardoning power
● Powers to check other branches of the government
Checks on the President’s power
Here are the ways on how the president’s exercise of power is checked.
● The Congress specifies the conditions and restrictions of certain powers it assigns to
the president.
● Only through the authorization and specifications of Congress could the president
exercise power of taxation.
● The Congress can request the department heads under the executive department to
appear and be heard on any matters pertaining to their corresponding departments.
● The Congress can override the president's veto by two-thirds vote in each house.
● The Supreme Court may declare executive orders and proclamations
unconstitutional.
● The Supreme Court may review the declaration of martial law and suspension of the
writ of habeas corpus.
Line of Succession (Presidential Succession)
● Vice President ( VP Sara Duterte)
● Senate President (Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri)
● Speaker of the House (Ferdinand Martin Romualdez)
 Philippine Presidents during the Contemporary World
Corazon C. Aquino
President Corazon Aquino has been regarded as an icon of Philippine democracy. It was
during her term that the Philippines found its way back to democracy and
constitutionalism.
Fidel V. Ramos
President Fidel Ramos is known for his vision of the Philippines 2000. His administration
opened the Philippine economy to foreign investors, prompting increased investments in the
country after Martial Law.
Joseph E. Estrada
Joseph Estrada was a former movie star. He became known for his charisma and appeal
to the masses. But because of plunder and corruption in the government, he was deposed
and was succeeded by his vice president.
LESSON 7: LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Legislative
Article VI, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the power to enact laws is
vested in the Philippine Congress (composed of the Senate and the House of
Representatives), except when this power is reserved to the people through initiative and
referendum.
The Philippine Congress
Structure and Organization
The country has a bicameral legislature because the Congress comprises two chambers.
The following summarizes the composition of the Congress, and the qualifications, election,
and terms of office of its members, based on the provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
Congress: Composition, Election, and Terms of Office

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
A former member of the Congress, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo rose to power in the
EDSA People Power II when she, as vice president, assumed the country’s top
governmental post after Estrada was ousted.

Benigno S. Aquino III

Benigno S. Aquino III’s rise to power started when the people called for him to run as
president months after his mother, former President Corazon Aquino, died in 2009. In 2010,
he won the presidential election and became the 15th president of the country. Aquino
began his efforts to get rid of a corruption-laden government via the campaign slogan
Qualifications of the Members of Congress
“Daang Matuwid.” His SONA focused on governance reform and anticorruption.

Rodrigo R. Duterte
Before being elected as president, Rodrigo Duterte was the longest-serving mayor of Davao
City for a total of seven terms. Running with the campaign slogan “Change is
Coming”—primarily with a platform of having a corruption-free government and crime and
drug-free society—Duterte won as president with a total of 16 601 997 votes or 39% of the
total votes cast in the May 2016 elections.
Powers and Functions of the Congress
The 1987 Constitution sets limits to the Congress’s exercise of power to create laws.
For instance, the Congress shall not pass a law that abridges the freedom of speech,
expression, and the like (Article III, Sections 4–5, 10, and 22). Similarly, it is provided that
the Congress may not increase appropriations recommended by the President (Article VI,
Section 25); that the rule of taxation shall be uniform and equitable; and that tax exemptions
to charitable institutions (and the like) shall be provided (Article VI, Section 29).
The Congress is also given powers to check on the powers of the president. Among
these are:
● Check the president’s power to appropriate money for government use (Article VI,
Section 25).
● Provide consent on appointments made by the president (Article VII, Section 16).
● Request heads of executive departments to appear before the Congress (Article VI,
Section 22).
● Check the president’s power as commander in chief in the suspension of writ of
habeas corpus or declaration of martial law (Article VII, Section 17).
● Concur with the president in granting amnesty to individuals (Article VII, Section
19).
The members of the Congress shall be the only judge of all contests related to the election,
returns, and qualification of their respective members, through the House and Senate
Electoral Tribunals. The Senate shall also have the sole power to decide on all cases of
impeachment by two-thirds votes. The Congress may also punish its members for disorderly
behavior (Article VI, Section 16).
With respect to international relations, the Congress also exercises functions known as
diplomatic powers. The following are good examples:
● Declaration of the existence of a state of war [Article VI, Section 23(1)]
● Granting of emergency powers to the President in times of war or emergency
[Article VI, Section 23(2)]
● No treaty or international agreement shall be valid and effective unless concurred in
by at least two-thirds of all the members of the Senate (Article VII, Section 21).
The Lawmaking Process and Legislative Performance
1. Preparation of the bill
2. First reading
3. Committee consideration/action
4. Second reading
5. Third reading
6. Transmittal of approved bill to the other house (where procedures 1 to 5 also
happen)
7. Conference committee (if there are differences or disagreements)
8. Submission of the bill to the president
9. Presidential action on the bill
If the president approves the bill, the same is assigned an RA (Republic Act) number and
is then transmitted to the House where it originated. Afterward, copies of the bill are
reproduced and sent to the office of the Official Gazette for publication and distribution to
the implementing agencies. Finally, it will be included in the annual compilation of Acts and
Resolutions.
If the bill is vetoed, it is transmitted to the House where it originated together with the
message of the president citing the reason for the bill’s disapproval. The Congress may
decide to override the veto of the president. If two-thirds of the members in each house
vote to override the veto, then the bill becomes a law.
LESSON 8: JUDICIAL BRANCH
Judicial power rests with the Supreme Court and the lower courts, as established by
law (Art. VIII, sec. 1 of the 1987 Constitution). Its duty is to settle actual controversies
involving rights which are legally demandable and enforceable (Art. VIII Sec. 1)
Judicial Branch
● Holds the power to settle controversies involving rights that are legally demandable
and enforceable.
● It provides mechanisms for resolution and disputes.
● Do not make the law but interpret it and apply it to the facts of each case.
● Tasked with ensuring equal justice under law.
The independence of the Philippine judiciary is manifested in the following:
● Creation of the Judicial and Bar Council
● Expanded power of judicial review
● Fiscal autonomy of the judiciary
 ● Power to review proclamation of martial law and the suspension of the writ of habeas ● Exercise jurisdiction in all criminal cases not within other courts except those falling
corpus under the exclusive and concurrent jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan.
● Security of tenure of the judges
● The Supreme Court as judge in presidential elections SPECIAL COURTS
Court of Tax Appeals
Structure, Organization, and Composition of the Judiciary ● Involves criminal violation and collection of revenues under the National Internal
Revenue Code and Tariff and Customs Code.
● Consists of 8 Associate Justice and 1 Presiding Justice.

Sandiganbayan
● A special court which was established to decide criminal and civil cases against
government officials and employees accused of graft and corruption and similar
cases.

Shari’a District Courts

● Equivalent to the Regional Trial Court established in specified provinces in Mindanao
where the Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines is being enforced.

Qualifications, Term of Office, Appointment, and Removal of the Members of Judiciary

The following are the qualifications of the members of the Supreme Court as provided by
Article VIII, Section 7, paragraph 1:
● Natural-born Filipino citizen
The present judiciary is comprised of regular courts tasked to administer justice. ● At least 40 years old
These are organized into four, the first two being review courts and the last two being trial ● Must have been for 15 years or more a judge of a lower court or engaged in the
courts: Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Regional Trial Courts, Metropolitan Trial Courts, practice of law in the Philippines
Municipal Trial Courts, Municipal Circuit Trial Courts, and Municipal Trial Courts in Cities ● Of proven competence, integrity, and probity

Supreme Court Paragraph 2 of the same section provides that the “Congress shall prescribe the
● Consists of 14 Associate Justices and 1 Chief Justice (CJ Alexander Gesmundo) qualifications of judges of lower courts, but no person may be appointed judge thereof
● Judicial and Administrative Function unless he is a citizen of the Philippines and a member of the Philippine Bar.”

Court of Appeals Meanwhile, Section 9 stipulates that “the Members of the Supreme Court and judges of the
● Consists of 68 Associate Justices and 1 Presiding Judge. lower courts shall be appointed by the President from a list of at least three nominees
prepared by the Judicial and Bar Council for every vacancy. Such appointments need no
Regional Trial Court confirmation. For the lower courts, the President shall issue the appointments within ninety
● Was established among the regions of the republic. days from the submission of the list.” Just like the president and vice president, the justices
of the Supreme Court may be removed from office through impeachment (Article XI,
Section 2).
Section 11 of Article VIII mandates that the members of the Supreme Court and the judges
of lower courts shall hold office in good behavior until they reach 70 years old, or become
incapacitated to fulfill their duties.
1987 PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION
PREAMBLE
We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of Almighty God, in order to build a just
and humane society, and establish a Government that shall embody our ideals and
aspirations, promote the common good, conserve and develop our patrimony, and secure to
ourselves and our posterity, the blessings of independence and democracy under the rule of
law and a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace, do ordain and
promulgate this Constitution.
LESSON 9: DECENTRALIZATION AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE
Decentralization - transfer of power and authority from central institutions to lower or local
levels of a government system.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991 (Republic Act No. 7160)
This code establishes the system and defines powers of provincial, city, municipal
and barangay governments in the Philippines. It was enacted into law, transferring control
and responsibility of delivering basic services to the hands of local government units (LGU).
It aimed to enhance provision of services in the grass roots level as well as improve the
efficiency in resource allocation.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

ARTICLE I: National Territory

ARTICLE II: Declaration of Principles and State Policies
ARTICLE III: Bill of Rights
ARTICLE IV: Citizenship
ARTICLE V: Suffrage
ARTICLE VI: Legislative Department
ARTICLE VII: Executive Department
ARTICLE VIII: Judicial Department
ARTICLE IX: Constitutional Commissions
ARTICLE X: Local Government
ARTICLE XI: Accountability of Public Officers
ARTICLE XII: National Economy and Patrimony
ARTICLE XIII: Social Justice and Human Rights
ARTICLE XIV: Education, Science and Technology,Arts, Culture, and Sports
ARTICLE XV: The Family
ARTICLE XVI: General Provisions
ARTICLE XVII: Amendments or Revisions
ARTICLE XVIII: Transitory Provisions
 LEVELS OF THE PHILIPPINE LOCAL GOVERNMENT MUNICIPALITY
This consists of a group of barangays, serving primarily as a general purpose
government for the coordination and delivery of basic services and effective governance
within its territory. It could be qualified as a Municipality if it has two million five hundred
thousand pesos (2,500,000) as its annual income for the last two consecutive years,
certified by the provincial Treasurer.
A population with at least twenty-five thousand (25,000) inhabitants as certified by
the NSO/PSA. And a contiguous territory of at least fifty (50) square kilometers as certified
by the Lands Management Bureau.

Officials of a Municipal Government:

1. Municipal Mayor
2. Municipal Vice Mayor
3. Sangguniang Bayan members
4. Municipal Treasurer
5. Municipal Accountant
6. Municipal Budget Officer
BARANGAY 7. Municipal Development Coordinator
Barangay is the basic unit of government. Made up of at least two thousand (2,000) 8. Municipal Health Officer
inhabitants certified by the PSA.
Functions of a Municipality:
Barangay should be composed of the following: 1. Serves as a delivery of basic services.
1.(1)Punong Barangay/Captain 2. Effective governance within the municipality.
2.(7)Sangguniang Barangay members 3. Issuance and to revoke licenses.
3.(1)SK Chairman
4.(1)Brgy. Secretary CITY
5.(1) Brgy. Treasurer A municipality or a cluster of barangays may be converted into a component city if it
6.(10-20) Lupong Tagapamayapa members has an average annual income of at least Twenty million pesos (20,000,000) for the last two
consecutive years, certified by the DOF. A contiguous territory of at least one hundred
Functions of Barangay: square kilometers, as certified by the Lands Management Bureau. And a population of at
1. Ensures delivery of basic services. least one hundred fifty thousand (150,000) inhabitants, certified by the NSO/PSA.
2. Enforce laws for the environment.
3. Eradicate drug abuse, child abuse and juvenile delinquency. Officials of a City Government:
4. Forum for people's interest. 1. City Mayor
5. Place for settling neighbor disputes 2. City Vice Mayor
3. Sangguniang Panlungsod members
4. City Treasurer
5. City Assessor
6. City Budget Officer
7. City Development Coordinator
8. City Health Officer
9. City Legal Officer

Functions of a City:
1. Serves as a delivery of basic services.
2. Effective governance within the city.
3. Issuance of licenses/To revoke license.

PROVINCE
A province may be created if it has an average annual income of at least Twenty
million pesos (20,000,000) for the last two consecutive years, certified by the DOF. A
contiguous territory of at least two thousand (2,000) square kilometers, as certified by the
Lands Management Bureau. And a population of at least two hundred fifty thousand LESSON 10: ELECTIONS AND POLITICAL PARTIES
(250,000) inhabitants as certified by the NSO/PSA. Suffrage
It is the right and obligation to vote of qualified citizens in the election of certain
Officials of a Provincial Government: national and local officers of the government and in the decision of public questions
1. Provincial Governor submitted to the people.
2. Provincial Vice-Governor
3. Sangguniang Panlalawigan Article V- Suffrage Section 1 states that:
4. Provincial Treasurer Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines not otherwise disqualified
5. Provincial Assessor by law, who are at least eighteen years of age, and who shall have resided in the Philippines
6. Provincial Accountant for at least one year and in the place wherein they propose to vote for at least six months
7. Provincial Budget Officer immediately preceding the election. No literacy, property, or other substantive requirement
8. Provincial Development Coordinator shall be imposed on the exercise of suffrage.
9. Provincial Health Officer
10. Provincial Population Officer Qualifications of Voters
He / She must be:
Functions of a province: ● A citizen (male or female) of the Philippines;
1.Supervision ● Not otherwise disqualified by law;
2. Developmental ● At least eighteen (18) years of age; and
3. Environmental ● Have resided in the Philippines for at least one (1) year and in the place wherein he
4. Health proposes to vote for at least six (6) months preceding the election.
Person disqualified by law Political Party
● Condemned by law for no less than 1 year sentence. As stated by Marume et al (2016), a political party is defined as an organized and
● People who committed crimes against national security. presumably durable association, either of individuals or of distinguishable groups of
● Mentally incompetent person. individuals, which endeavors to place its members in governmental offices for the purpose of
bringing about the adoption of favored political policies or programmes.
Scope of Suffrage
1. Election – It is the means by which the people choose their officials for definite and fixed
Types of party System
periods and to whom they entrust, for the time being as their representatives, the exercise of
● One party system - Only one party is allowed to control and run the government.
powers of government.
● Bi or Two party system - Only the two main parties have a serious chance of
2. Plebiscite – It is the name given to a vote of the people expressing their choice for or
winning a majority of seats to form a government.
against a proposed law or enactment submitted to them.
● Multi-party system - More than two parties have a reasonable chance of coming to
3. Referendum – It is the submission of a law or part thereof passed by the national or local
power either on their own strength or in alliance with others.
legislative body to the voting citizens of a country for their ratification or rejection.
4. Initiative – It is the process whereby the people directly propose and enact laws.
There are several political parties that stand for the election in the country. The
5. Recall – It is a method by which a public officer may be removed from office during his
Nacionalista Party, the Liberal Party, the Lakas-CMD, the PDP-LABAN, the Nationalist
tenure or before the expiration of his term by a vote of the people after registration of a
People's Coalition, the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, the Akbayan and the Philippine
petition signed by a required percentage of the qualified voters.
Democratic Socialist Party are the parties with largest membership in Congress.

Can Illiterate and disabled person vote?

Political Parties are required to register with the COMELEC with a verified petition
Can Overseas Filipino workers (OFW) vote?
with attachments including a constitution, by-laws, platform, and such other information as
may be required by the COMELEC.
It is also stated in the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines – Article IX –the
establishments of Commission on Elections (COMELEC). In Section 2 discusses the
powers and functions of COMELEC:

● Enforce and administer all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of an election,
plebiscite, initiative, referendum, and recall.
● Exercise exclusive original jurisdiction over all contests relating to the elections,
returns, and qualifications of all elective regional, provincial, and city officials, and
appellate jurisdiction over all contests involving elective municipal officials decided by
trial courts of general jurisdiction, or involving elective barangay officials decided by
trial courts of limited jurisdiction.

Decisions, final orders, or rulings of the Commission on election contests involving

elective municipal and barangay offices shall be final, executory, and not appealable.