The Legislative Department

of the Republic of the

Philippines
 LET’S HAVE A RECAP

• What are the 5 qualifications to be a

president?
• Who can enumerate the powers of a
president?
 OBJECTIVES

• At the end of the lesson, the students should be

able to:
• 1. identify the features of the Philippine Senate and
House of Representatives in the government; and
• 2. discuss the roles and responsibilities of the
Philippine Senate and the House of
Representatives.
• 3. appreciate the importance of Philippine Congress
Let’s Compare
 BASIC STRUCTURES

There are two basic structures for legislative

branches of government:
1. Unicameral- The legislative branch co
nsists of one chamber/house
2. Bicameral- Legislative power is vested
in two chambers/houses
THE PHILIPPINE CONGRESS
The Philippine Congress is the country’s legi
slative department (Art. VI, Sec. 1)

Congress is bicameral.

a) Upper House: Senate

b) Lower House: House of Representatives
 THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
 From the Latin lex (legis) meaning law.
 The primary function of the legislative branch
is the creation, enactment, and amendments
of laws.
 Proposed laws may come from the Senators
or Representatives themselves, the people
they represent (district, province, or the
party).
 These proposals are drafted into a Bill.
• By a vote of two-thirds of both Houses in joint
session assembled, voting separately,
Philippine Congress shall have the sole power
to declare the existence of a state of war.
• The Senate shall elect its President and the
House of Representatives its Speaker, by a
majority vote of all its respective Members.
• The Senate and the House of Representatives
shall each have an Electoral Tribunal which
shall be the sole judge of all contests relating to
the election, returns, and qualifications of their
respective Members.
• The Senate or the House of Representatives or
any of its respective committees may conduct
inquiries in aid of legislation in accordance with
its duly published rules of procedure.
 SENATE
• Composition
• Qualifications 24 Senators elected at large
Natural-born citizen
At least 35 years old on electi
on day
Literate (can read and write)
Registered voter
Philippine resident for 2 year
s prior to election day
• Term of Office 6 years
Maximum: 2 terms
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Composition
Qualifications 200 district reps, 50 party list
Natural-born citizen
At least 25 years old on election d
ay
Literate (can read and write)
Registered voter of the district
District resident for 1 year prior t
o election day
Term of Office
3 years
IN CASE OF VACANCY…

• In case of vacancy, under Section 9

of Article VI, a special election may
be called to fill such vacancy in the
manner prescribed by law, but the
senator thus elected shall serve
only for the unexpired term.
 STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS
• Senate President and House Speaker elected b
y majority vote
• Other officers, procedures and the discipline of i
ts members is at the discretion of each house
• Quorum: Majority
• Each House maintains a journal and record of p
roceedings
• Neither House can adjourn without the other’s c
onsent while in session
 OFFICERS OF THE SENATE

• Senate President
– Sen. Vicente C. Sotto III
• Senate President Pro-tempore
– Sen. Ralph G. Recto
• Senate Majority Floor Leader
– Juan Miguel Zubiri
• Senate Minority Floor Leader
– Sen. Franklin M. Drilon
• Senate Secretary
- Emma L. Reyes
• Senate Sgt. –at-Arms
- MGen Rene C. Samonte AFP(Ret)
 SENATE COMMITTEES
• Committee on Accountability of Public Officer
s and Investigations
• Committee on Accounts
• Committee on Agrarian Reform
• Committee on Agriculture and Food
• Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions a
nd Currencies
• Committee on Public Information and Mass
Media
• Committee on Public Order and Illegal Drugs
• Committee on Public Services
• Committee on Public Works
• Committee on Rules
• Committee on Science and Technology
• Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and R
ural Development
• Committee on Civil Service and Government
Reorganization
• Committee on Constitutional Amendments,
Revision of Codes and Laws
• Committee on Cooperatives
• Committee on Cultural Communities
• Committee on Economic Affairs
• Committee on Education, Arts and Culture
• Committee on Energy
• Committee on Environment and Natural R
esources
• Committee on Ethics and Privileges
• Committee on Finance
• Committee on Foreign Relations
• Committee on Games, Amusement and Sp
orts
• Committee on Government Corporations a
nd Public Enterprises
• Committee on Health and Demography
• Committee on Justice and Human Rights
• Committee on Labor, Employment and Hu
man Resources Development
• Committee on Local Government
• Committee on National Defense and Secur
ity
• Committee on Peace, Unification and Rec
onciliation
• Committee on Tourism
• Committee on Trade and Commerce
• Committee on Urban Planning, Housing an
d Resettlement
• Committee on Ways and Means
• Committee on Youth, Women and Family
Relations
OFFICERS OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES

• House Speaker – Hon. Lord Allan Velasco

• House Deputy Speakers
• Hon. Leachon, Doy C.
- Oriental Mindoro, 1st District
• Hon. Romero, Michael L., Ph.D.
- Party List – 1-PACMAN
• Hon. Hernandez, Ferdinand L.
- South Cotabato, 2nd District
• Hon. Escudero, Evelina G.
• Sorsogon, 1st District

• Hon. Legarda, Loren

• Antique, Lone District

• Hon. Estrella, Conrado III M.

• Party List – ABONO

• Hon. Pichay, Prospero Jr. A.

• Surigao del Sur, 1st District
• House Majority Floor Leader – Hon. Joel
Mayo Z. Almario
• House Minority Floor Leader – Hon. Joseph
Stephen Pauano
• House Secretary – Mark Llandro L. Mendoza
• House Sgt. At Arms – BGen. Rodelio B.
Jocson (Ret)
 HOUSE COMMITTEES
(58 HOUSE COMMITTEES)

• Accounts
• Cooperatives Development
• Dangerous Drugs
• Ecology
• Economic Affairs
• Foreign Affairs
• Games and Amusements
• Health
• Human Rights
• Justice
• Labor and Employment
• Local Government
• Metro Manila Development
• Mindanao Affairs
• Muslim Affairs
• Population and Family Relations
• Social Services
• Trade and Industry
• Veterans Affairs and Welfare
• Women and Gender Equality
PARLIAMENTARY IMMUNITIES
 PARLIAMENTARY PRIVILEGES

Congressmen have two parliamentary

privileges while Congress is in session:

1. Privilege from arrest

• Immunity from offenses punishable by not more than six year
s imprisonment

2. Privilege of speech and debate

• Immunity from libel and slander
 ITS SESSIONS

• Regular Session - Our Constitution

Provides that our Congress convenes
for its regular session every year
beginning on the 4th Monday of July. A
regular session can last until thirty days
before the opening of its next regular
session in the succeeding year.
 SPECIAL SESSION

• The president may, however, call

sessions which are usually held
between regular legislative sessions to
handle emergencies or urgent matter.
JOINT SESSION

• A Joint Session or joint convention is, when

two normally separate decision making
groups meet, often in a special session or
other extraordinary meeting, for a special
purpose.
 POWERS OF CONGRESS
1. Appointment of Public Officials
2. Legislative inquiry and investigation
3. Declare the existence of a state of
war
4. Ratify the country’s international tre
aties (Senate)
5. Authorize limited emergency power
s for the President
6. Approve the government budget
7. Undertake projects under the CDF
8. Propose, review, and adopt bills for enact
ment into law
9. Overturn a Presidential veto with respect
to proposed legislation
10. Allow for referenda
11. Propose amendments to the constitution
and call for a constitutional convention
 LEGISLATIVE LIMITATIONS
Congress may not:
1. Increase appropriations recommended by t
he executive branch
2. Pass tax exemptions without the concurren
ce of a majority of its members
3. Grant titles of nobility
4. Pass ex post facto bills
5. Pass bills of attainder
 HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW?
• A bill is a draft of law presented to legislation for
enactment, by the approval of the Congress and
the president of the Republic.
• The basic process for the creation or amendment
of a law begins with a bill drafted by a senator or
representative and filed for the first reading.
• The FIRST READING is where the Senate President
or the Speaker of the House reads out the title,
bill number, and author’s name, and then assigns
the bill to the proper senate or house committee.
• The author(s) or the concerned committee will
send out an invitation to various concerned
parties, agencies, and stakeholders for a public
hearing of the bill to review the proposed bill
and give their comments during the
deliberations.
• The concerned committee can hold a technical
working group meeting for specific changes to
the provisions such as proper concepts,
correction of grammar, and deletion or addition
of certain phrases or words.
• After the approval of the bill by the committee
members, a committee report is then filed with
its approved version of the bill to the Committee
on Rules for the second reading.
• In the SECOND READING, the author of the bill or
the chairperson of the committee delivers a
sponsorship speech.
• It is followed by a period of INTERPELLATION
wherein other senators or representatives may
debate or ask further questions to the sponsor
of the bill.
• After the interpellation, the senators or
representatives may make some amendments.
In reviewing a bill, there are some things to consider:
•Does the bill conform to the provisions of the
Constitution?
•What is the main issue that the bill is trying to
address?
•What are the methods that the bill is trying to propose
in order to answer the issue?
•Who will benefit from the bill if it is enacted to law?
How will the benefits be given? Will this create further
problems?
•Is there sufficient fund for the law? Where will the
government get the fund needed to enforce the law?
 Referral to Committee
Debate

1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading

~House of Representatives~
• The representatives or the senators again vote
for the passage of the bill on second reading.
• As a general rule, a bill must pass both the
Senate and the House.
 Referral to
Debate
Committee

1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading

~Senate~

1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading

~House of Representatives~
• Note that two versions of a bill are
processed simultaneously in both houses.
• The final version of the approved bill by
both houses is then printed for approval.
Or if there are disagreements between the
two houses on the final version of the bill,
a Bicameral Conference Committee is
created to make the necessary changes
before printing out the final and reconciled
version of the bill.
1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading

~Senate~

BICAMERAL
COMMITTEE

1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading

~House of Representatives~
• Another period of interpellation follows after
which the senators or the representatives vote
for the third reading of the bill. Upon the last
reading of the bill, no amendment shall be
allowed.
• Upon approval of the final version of the bill by
both houses, the Senate President and the
Speaker of the House shall sign the final copy
now known as the enrolled bill and send it to the
president for approval and signature.
• The bill becomes a law upon signing of the
president.
 President

1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading

~Senate~

1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading

~House of Representatives~
• In case of objection from the president, the
enrolled bill is vetoed and returned to the House
where the bill is originated.
• If the House of Representatives or the Senate still
reconsiders the bill, at least 2/3 of all members of
the House shall vote to override the president’s
veto and for the bill to become a law.
• On the other hand, failure by the president to act
on the enrolled bill within 30 days upon his/her
receipt, the bill becomes a law as if the president
has signed it.
APPROVE President VETO
30 DAY PERIOD

1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading

1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading

~House of Representatives~
Other than a bill, each House can make
resolutions.
•A resolution conveys principles and
sentiments of the members of the Senate or
the House of Representative.
Three Types of Resolutions
1.Joint Resolutions- require the approval of
both houses of Congress and the signature of
the president, and have the force and effect of
a law if approved.
2. Concurrent Resolutions – used for matters
affecting the operations of both houses of
Congress and must be approved in the same
form by both houses, but are not transmitted
to the president for his/her signature and
therefore have no force and effect of a law.

3. Simple Resolutions – deal with matters

entirely within the prerogative of one house
of Congress; are not referred to the president
for his/her signature, and therefore have no
force and effect of a law.
 EXCLUSIVE ROLE OF PHILIPPINE CONGRESS

• The Philippine Congress has an exclusive and a very

important role concerning the accountability of
public officers as indicated in Article XI of the 1987
Philippine Constitution which can be found at the
webpage of The Official Gazette of the Philippine
Government. Specifically, the role pertains to the
process of removing the President, the Vice-
President, the Members of the Supreme Court, the
Members of the Constitutional Commissions, and the
Ombudsman in their respective positions.
• This process is called impeachment and
shall be grounded on the culpable violation
of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft
and corruption, other high crimes, or
betrayal of public trust by the above-
mentioned public officials.
• All cases of impeachment shall be initiated at the
House of Representatives. The Senate tries and shall
decide on all cases and if the President of the
Philippines is facing the impeachment case, the Chief
Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court will preside
but shall not vote. If the case involves the Vice-
President, the Members of the Supreme Court, the
Members of the Constitutional Commissions, and the
Ombudsman, the Senate President shall preside. No
person shall be convicted without the concurrence of
two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate.
 ASSIGNMENT
• In a ½ sheet. Suppose you are a legislator in
the Philippine Congress. Propose a bill that
you would like to be approved into a law.
Use the following format:
Title of the Bill Purpose
Example: Study Now Pay To provide financial
Later Bill assistance to deserving but
poor students for their
education with the
condition that they will
serve the country after
finishing their degree.