Ereo, Irish Pauline Calapis, Maria Riena

I. Introduction
Legislative Branch
y From the Latin lex, legis meaning law y The legislative branch broadly deals with the making,

deliberation over, enactment, amendment and repealing of laws

Two Basic Structures of Legislative Branch

Unicameral y The legislative branch consists of one chamber/house 2. Bicameral y Legislative power is vested in two chambers/houses
1.

The Philippine Congress

The Philippine Congress is the country s legislative department (Art. VI, Sec. 1)

y Congress is bicameral y Upper House: Senate y Lower House: House of Representatives y N.B.: Senators are Congressmen

Senate
Composition 24 Senators elected at large 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 6 years Maximum: 2 terms

Qualifications

Term of Office

History
y 1907-1916: Philippine Commission served as the upper y y y

chamber of the colonial legislature at the same time exercised executive powers. August 29, 1916: "Jones Law" paved the way for the creation of a bicameral Philippine Legislature Quezon then ran for the Senate and became Senate President for the next 19 years (1916 1935). 1935: "Tydings-McDuffie Act" granted the Filipinos the right to frame their own constitution in preparation for their independence 1938: National Assembly began consideration of restoring the Senate as the upper chamber of Congress.

y 1940: A bicameral legislature was approved y November, 1941: first elections for the restored upper y y y y y

house was held The Senate finally convened in 1945 and served as the upper chamber of Congress Declaration of martial law in 1972: shut down the Congress. 1987: The Senate was resurrected in 1987 upon the ratification of the 1987 Constitution. 1916-1935: the Philippines was divided into 12 Senatorial districts T his was discontinued in 1941 when the Senate was reestablished, wherein all senators were elected on a national basis.

II. Mission-Vision

III. Legal and Constitutional Mandates

A. In case of Vacancy
y Vacancy can be filled through regular election y Special elections can be called for the purpose of filling

the vacancy
y In either circumstance, the one elected merely sits for

the unexpired term

B. Parliamentary Privileges
Congressmen have two parliamentary privileges while Congress is in session: 1. Privilege from arrest
y

Immunity from offenses punishable by not more than six years imprisonment

2.
y

Privilege of speech and debate

Immunity from libel and slander

C. Transparency
Elected Congressmen must: 1. Fully disclose their financial and business interests 2. Disclose potential conflicts of interests that arise in the course of legislation 3. Keep from any other office or employment (appointed or otherwise), forfeit his/her seat to do so

D. Structure and Dynamics

y Senate President and House Speaker elected by y y y y

majority vote Other officers, procedures and the discipline of its members is at the discretion of each house Quorum: Majority Each House maintains a journal and record of proceedings Neither House can adjourn without the other s consent while in session

E. Powers of Congress
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Appointment of Public Officials Legislative inquiry and investigation Declare the existence of a state of war Ratify the country s international treaties (Senate) Authorize limited emergency powers for the President

6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

Approve the government budget Undertake projects under the CDF Propose, review, and adopt bills for enactment into law Overturn a Presidential veto with respect to proposed legislation Allow for referenda Propose amendments to the constitution and call for a constitutional convention

F. Legislative Limitations
Congress may not: 1. Increase appropriations recommended by the executive branch 2. Pass tax exemptions without the concurrence of a majority of its members 3. Grant titles of nobility 4. Pass ex post facto bills 5. Pass bills of attainder

IV. Organizational Structure/Chart

y A. Office of the Senate
y The Senate President

presiding officer of the Senate as well as the leader of the majority group. y The Senate President Pro Tempore y shall discharge the powers and duties of the President if not available
y

y The Majority Leader

y

helps formulate, promote, negotiate and defend the majority s legislative program, particularly on the floor. criticize constructively the policies and programs of the majority, and to this end employ parliamentary tactics and give close attention to all proposed legislation.

y The Minority Leader

y

B. Senate Committees
y Specific problems, whether local or national in scope,

are initially brought to the forum of congressional committees where they are subjected to rigid and thorough discussions. y Congressional hearings and investigations on matters dealing with every field of legislative concern have frequently been conducted by congressional committees.

C. Secretariat
y A. The Senate Secretary y Assists the Senate President in extending adequate and timely legislative and administrative support to the offices of Senators. y Exercises supervision and control over all the offices of the service units and officers and employees of the Senate Secretariat. y Formulates plans, policies and programs aimed at professionalizing the institution.

B. The Senate Sergeant-at-Arms

y To be responsible for the security and maintenance of

order in the session hall, antechambers, corridors and offices of the Senate, whether in session or not, in accordance with the orders of the President or the Secretary; y To be responsible for the strict compliance by his subordinates of their respective duties. He may impose upon them corrective or disciplinary measures for just cause, including a recommendation to the President of the Senate, through the Secretary, for their dismissal; and

V. Leadership & Membership Profile

y Senator Juan Ponce Enrile
y Senate President

y Gonzaga, Cagayan y Petra Furagganan and Alfonso Ponce Enrile (Born out of wedlock) y Cum laude with an Associate of Arts degree at the Ateneo de Manila University in 1949 . y University of the Philippines College of Law and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Laws degree. y 11th highest score with a 91.72% rating and a perfect score in Mercantile Law in the 1953 bar examinations. y Earned a Master of Laws degree with specialized training in International Tax Law at Harvard Law School .

y Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada y Senate President Pro-Tempore y President Joseph Marcelo Ejercito Estrada and Senator y y y y y y

Luisa Pimentel-Ejercito Estrada Married to Ma. Presentacion "Precy" Vitug-Ejercito Primary and secondary education at Ateneo de Manila University. University of the Philippines Lyceum of the Philippines (AB Economics) Bachelor of Laws at the Lyceum of the Philippines Did not finish his law studies due to his active participation both in politics and in the movies.

y Senator Vicente C. Sotto III y Majority Leader y August 24, 1948 y Marcelino Ojeda Sotto and Dr. Herminia Castelo Sotto, y Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in English at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran. y Executive Program for Leaders in Development at the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government that he completed in June 2000. y Married to Ms. Helen Gamboa of Pampanga y Four children: Romina, Diorella, Gian and Ciara and two grandsons Romino and Victorio. A very well-versed actor but not a politician.

y Senator Edgardo J. Angara y Baler, Aurora y Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the

Philippines in 1958. y Master of Laws degree from the University of Michigan's School of Law in the United States in 1964.

y Senator Joker P. Arroyo y January 5, 1927 in Naga, Camarines Sur y Elementary education at the Naga Elementary School y Secondary education at the Camarines Sur High

School also in Naga. y Scholarship at the University of the Philippines and obtained the title Bachelor of Arts, y 1951 Bachelor of Laws from the College of Law. y AAPL at the Ateneo de Manila University.

y Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago y Benjamin A. Defensor and Dimpna Palma Defensor y Valedictorian of La Paz Elementary School, and valedictorian of the Iloilo Provincial National High School, also earning a medal for all-around excellence. y Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of the Philippines Visayas. Kappa Phi honor societies. y University of the Philippines first female editor of the student newspaper, and twice made ROTC Muse. y She took and passed the 1969 Bar Exams. y Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, and Bachelor of Laws, cum laude, from the University of the Philippines (U.P.). Santiago pursued higher learning, earning the titles "Master of Laws", and "Doctor of Law", from the University of Michigan.

y Senator Franklin M. Drilon y November 28, 1945 in Iloilo City, Iloilo y Cesar Drilon, Sr. and Primitiva Drilon. y Baluarte Elementary School in Molo, Iloilo, Iloilo

in 1957. y U.P. - Iloilo College in 1961. y University of the Philippines, Bachelor in Arts in 1965. y Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) at the U.P. College of Law in 1969 y Bar examination with the third highest score.

y Senator Francis Joseph Chiz Guevara Escudero y October 10, 1969 in Manila, Philippines y Representative Salvador "Sonny" H. Escudero III and y y y y

Evelina B. Guevara. University of the Philippines Integrated School for both Elementary and Secondary Education Bachelor's Degree in Political Science at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City Bachelors of Laws at the University of the Philippines College of Law Masters in International and Comparative Law at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington D. C.

y Senator Gregorio Ballesteros Honasan II y Colonel Romeo Honasan and Alice Ballesteros y Elementary at San Beda College from kindergarten to y y y y

gr. 6 Dominican School, Taipei, Taiwan. Finished his high school at Don Bosco Mandaluyong. Bachelor of Science degree at the Philippine Military Academy "Class Baron", the academy's highest leadership award.

y Senator Panfilo M. Lacson y Born in Imus, Cavite on June 1, 1948. y Grade school at the Bayang Luma Elementary School y High school at the Imus Institute y Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at the Lyceum of the

Philippines University y Philippine Military Academy. y Was commissioned in the Philippine Constabulary after his graduation in 1971. y Postgraduate degree of Master in Government Management from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila in 1996.

y Loren Legarda y Born on January 28, 1960 in Malabon y Antonio Cabrera Legarda and Bessie Gella Bautista y Assumption College from primary to high school,

valedictorian. y University of the Philippines, cum laude.

y Senator Sergio R. Osmea III y Sergio Osmea, Jr. of Cebu and Lourdes de la Rama y elementary at De La Salle College. y Secondary at the St. Clement s College in Iloilo, Ateneo

de Manila and Beaumont College in Berkshire, England. y Although he has never obtained a university degree, he studied in various educational institutions which include University of San Carlos, University of the Philippines, Los Baos, Harvard University, and Georgetown University.

y Senator Kiko Pangilinan y August 24, 1963 in Manila y Donato Pangilinan and Emma Nepomuceno y Elementary and highschool at La Salle Green Hills y University of the Philippines, Diliman with a

Bachelor of Arts in English, Major in Comparative Literature. y In 1997, he finished his post-graduate studies at the Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government with a degree of Master of Science in Public Administration with an area of concentration in Strategic Management.

y Senator Ralph G. Recto y Recto comes from a political family. y Recto has two Master's Degrees one in Public

Administration from the University of the Philippines, Diliman and another in Strategic Business Economics from the University of Asia and the Pacific. y Leadership Scholarship Course at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. y Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration at the De La Salle University-Manila.

y Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV y Phil. Navy Capt. Antonio Floranza Trillanes Sr. and Estelita Fuentes Trillanes y Sienna College y Angelicum School y De La Salle University, BS in ECE. y Philippine Military Academy, cum laude while earning a degree in BS Naval System Engineering. y Other awards he received while in PMA are the Mathematics Plaque, Physical Science Plaque, and the Tambuli Award for electrical/electronics engineering. y graduate studies at the University of the Philippines Diliman, and got his masters degree in Public Administration, Major in Public Policy and Program Management.

y Senator Manny Villar y December 13, 1949 in Tondo y Manuel Montalban Villar, Sr. and Curita Bamba y Isabelo delos Reyes Elementary School, a nearby public y y y y y

school in Tondo. Drop out from school during Grade 1. Tondo Parochial School, a private school in Tondo run by priests, to complete his elementary education. High school at Mapa Institute of Technology in Intramuros. University of the Philippines Diliman, bachelor's degree in business administration . Master's degree in business administration in UP Diliman.

VI. Issues, Trends, Challenges

VII. Policies, Programs, Laws, Projects, and Action Plans

VIII. Critique Evaluation/Reflection

IX. Synthesis, Conclusion, Recommendation

y We become familiar with the Philippine Congress as

the legislative department of the Philippine government. y We able to identify the structure, function, powers and constituency of the Philippine Congress as stipulated in Article VI of the 1987 Philippine Constitution y We re able to understand the key political concepts related to governance, especially with respect to legislative branches of government

X. Bibliographic Entries
y Senate Composition

http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/composition.a sp y Senate of the Philippines http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senate_of_the_Phili ppines y Legal Senate http://www.chanrobles.com/legal3senate.html y Senate Government Officials http://www.philippinecountry.com/government_o fficials/senate.html

y Philippine Senate

http://politicsandgovernance.blogspot.com/2010/07/p hilippine-senate.html y http://www.chanrobles.com/article6.htm y My Blog My Philippines http://sites.google.com/site/myblogmyphilippines/phi lippines

y Philippine Senate http://www.senate.gov.ph/ y President of the Senate of the Philippines

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_Senate _of_the_Philippines y Continuity of Life of Senate http://politicsandgovernance.blogspot.com/2010/07/c ontinuity-of-life-of-senate.html

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