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PROCEDURE FOR ELECTIONS Once a registered voter finds his name in the voters' list and locates the correct precinct, he may queue in line for the distribution of the ballot. Prior to the 2010 elections, voters have to write the names of the candidates next to the positions in which they are running. COMELEC-approved nicknames maybe used by the voters in writing the names. After the polling period ends, the Board of Election Inspectors (or the teachers manning the polling precinct) counts the ballots by hand. Once all the ballots are counted, they'd accomplish he election returns that will be sent to the city or municipal Board of Canvassers, political parties and other groups. For the 2010 election, the voters shaded the oval before their chosen candidate's name, and a voting machine automatically counts each ballot as it is fed into it. The results will then be printed as the election return and sent electronically to the city or municipal Board of Canvassers as stated below.

GENERAL ELECTIONS

NATIONAL ELECTIONS

LOCAL ELECTIONS

SPECIAL ELECTIONS

ELECTIONS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS

PLEBISCITE

INITIATIVE

REFERENDUM

RECALL

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They can organize political rallies, campaign literature and speakers They help to mold public opinion which is essential in a democracy. They select capable men to run for public office. They encourage collective responsibility in politics.

In there desire to win elections, they may distort the truth and give biased information, including black propaganda. They may produced hostility and luck of unity among the people by their rivalry. They do not always choose the best men as their candidates, hence many elected officials prove incompetent and corrupt. They are responsible for such evil political practices as pakikisama (clannishness) nepotism, bribery, graft, Influence peddling and turncoatism.

ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES

 is a statement containing the policies and promises of good government to attract the support of voters.

The first political party in the Philippines was the LIGA FILIPINA founded in 1892 by JOSE RIZAL .

The first successful political parties started during our peaceful independence campaign in the American era.

 Gave the nation many presidents, vice presidents, congressmen and local officials.

Another great party, such statements as ROXAS , QUIRINO,MACAPAGAL,JOVITO SALONGA,NINOY AQUINO. Politicians who join parties only to win votes or influence. But they do not really have a mission in life. AMONG Parties today are: The LAKAS NUCD , Laban , Laban ng Masang Pilipino (LAMP), the Kilusan ng Bagong Lipunan (KBL), and of course, the LP and NP.

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 The chief Executive of the land. He or She makes sure the country is running well.

The president proposes laws and the budget in the annual SONA or the STATE OF THE NATION ADRESS .
He is the Commander in-chief of the Armed Forces, the head of the Cabinet, the top diplomat, and the symbol of the nation. President is called THE FATHER ( or MOTHER ) OF THE NATION .

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE PRESIDENT

A person must be a natural born citizen, at Before the election. The least 40 years old, a president makes an annual statement of his registered voter, can read and write, and a ( or her ) personal wealth . resident for at least ten yrs. The media and the public usually keep a close watch on the president lifestyle, family, and friends. He or she should be prepared to lose their privacy and make sacrifices for the nation.

 The president is elected for a term of six years . The first presidential election under the 1987 Constitution was in 1992. During the commonwealth era, the presidential term was changed from six years to four years, with one reelection. This was because PRESIDENT QUEZON said, six years, is too long for a bad president, and too short for a good one."

 Presidents lives and holds office in an official residence called MALACANANG . This palatial mansion was the official residence of the Spanish and American governor-generals in the past. MALACANANG also contains a museum of extravagance and decadence of the Marcos administration. The president receives P 300000 ,allowance for travel, office staff and equipment etc. President symbolizes the state, he or she is given full honors in the performance of duty, during official functions and state visits.

1. The VICE-PRESIDENT succeeds the president. 2. If the VICE-PRESIDENT is not available , the senate President acts as president.

3. If the senate president is not available, the house speaker becomes the acting president
4. And if the speaker is not available , any member of congress may be elected by both houses of congress to act as president.

POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT *As the Chief Executive, the President implements the laws of the land. He (or She) can issue executive orders to implement the law. *He (or She ) may propose laws to Congress or for the public initiate. *He submits to Congress the proposed budget of income and

expenditures of the government. *He appoints public officials and military officers ( Supreme Court Justices, Cabinet secretaries, etc. ) *He determines the foreign policy of the Republic. He appoints ambassador and other diplomatic officials with the consent of the Congress. *He can make or guarantee foreign and domestic loans on behalf of the Republic subject in certain limitations. *He can veto any bill of Congress. *He grants pardon, reprieves, commutations and remits fines and forfeitures, except in cases of impeachment. PARDON is absolute forgiveness of a crime, as if it never happened. REPRIEVE is a suspension for a limited time of the death sentenced imposed by the supreme court on a convicted person. COMMUTATION is a reduction of a severe court sentenced to a lighter one. REMISSION is an act of grace exempting a convicted person from the punishment imposed on him by the court for a crime he has committed.

1.

The president, Vice- President, and Cabinet secretaries, their deputies and assistant, shall not hold any other office or employment or engage in business during their stay in office 2. The spouse and relatives within the fourth civil degree of the president shall not be appointed be a members of Constitutional Commissions, Tanod-bayan, or as cabinet secretaries ,under secretaries, bureau heads or head of the Government corporations

3.The President cannot make appointment two months before the next presidential elections and at the end of his term.
4.Within 48 hours after the declaration of martial law, the President shall submit the report to the congress.

5.The President may not suspend the Constitution, abolish the congress, replace the courts even during the emergency.
6.Martial law may be extended only with the approval of congress. 7.He may only contract of guarantee foreign loans with the prior concurrence of the Monetary Board and other provisions by law.

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Legislative or law making power is the power to make laws that are legal and binding.1987 Constitution the legislative power vested in two ways: 1. The new congress of the Philippines make the laws of the Republic. 2. The people may also directly propose and enact laws or approve and reject them by means of initiative and referendum.

MEMBERS OF THE NEW CONGRES

Congress is the legislative body it is compose of two houses. a. The Senate or upper House- compose of 24 senators.

B . House of Representatives or lower house compose not more than 250 members. To be congress a person must be a natural born citizen at least 25 years old able to write and read . the new congress are required to submit a statement of their financial and business interest. Bicameral Congress The law making body is compose of bicameral (two house). Reasons of bicameral congress: 1.Historically, the Philippines had a bicameral congress under the third Republic (1964-1972)

2. A second chamber is needed to guard against hasty legislative.

3. A legislative of two houses cannot easily be controlled by selfish interest.

4. A senate elected by the whole nation would balance the narrow interest of the house of the representatives whose member come from district and sectors.
5. There would be a larger training ground for leaders of the country.

Disqualification of Members of Congress Limitation of the member of congress: 1.They cannot hold office or employment in another branch of the government. 2. They cannot financially be interested in an government contract. Franchise of especial interest of the government . 3. They cannot appear as lawyers before any court, electoral tribunal, or semi-judicial body.

Officers of Congress
The chief officers of congress are Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives. They are elected by a majority vote of the members of their respective houses. Congressional Immunity *privilege of free speech in Congress Any member of Congress can speak freely to the house without fear of being questioned or held liable for his statements. *Congressional privilege and immunities -a member enjoys freedom from arrest during attendance of the session, except for crimes involving at least six years imprisonment

Powers and duties of the New congress

1. 1. To make laws and to pass resolutions To approve the annual budget of the government. 1. To ratify treaties with other states 1. 1. To declare war

To impose or investigate matters of public interest about the work of government 1. To try and decide cases of impeachment against the president, Supreme Court Justices, members of the constitutional and tanodbayan

7.To propose amendments to the constitution or to call for the constitutional convention 8. To certify authenticate and canvass votes for President and Vice- President after presidential elections

9. To cancel or extend a martial law declaration by the President 10. Through an electoral tribunal to decide cases or electoral protest involving its members 11. Through a Commission on Appointments to approve appointments made by the President.

Electoral Tribunals This tribunal will decide cases of election protest involving members of its house .composed of nine members three supreme court justices and six members of the upper and lower house.

Sessions of congress

Congress shall meet regularly each year beginning on the

Commission on Appointments

fourth Monday of July until around June of the following year . It may also called to a special session.

all appointments made by the President to important government positions must be approve by a Congressional Commission on Appointments.

How a bill becomes a law

A bill

is a draft of a law that is submitted to the Congress . If a bill adopted or pass by Congress it becomes a part of the law of the land

When bill is presented it must go through 3 readings.

1. it is read by title only. 2. it is printed and distributed to the house. 3.it is put to a vote without amendments and the yeas and nays are counted . if there is a majority of yea votes the bill is passed by that house and sent to other house.

It is given a number and is published in the Official Gazette.

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JUDICIAL POWER
is the power to interpret the laws of the land in cases of disputes. It is vested in the Supreme court and the lower courts .

Independence of the Judiciary

They are compose to render justice to all men, base only on the facts and the law involved, without fear to favor to anyone and free from the pressure or influence of the executive or legislative branches.

Constitution ensure of the independence of the judiciary and

the swift resolution of legal cases of the following way:

1. Court have the duty to settle actual controversies And cannot dismiss them on the ground that they involve political questions. 2.The members of the Supreme court and the judges of the lower courts hold office during good behavior until they teach retirement age. 3. The salaries of the members of the Supreme Court and judges of the lower courts are fixed by law and cannot be decreased. 4. A judge must be a person of good character, integrity, and independence. 5. Courts must decide cases within certain deadlines. 6. An independent Judicial and Bar Council shall recommend appointments to the judiciary.

Organization of the Judiciary According to the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980, the judiciary is compose of the following courts: 1. Supreme Court 3. Regional Trial Courts

2. Intermediate Appellate Court 4. Municipal Trial Courts

And there are two special courts: a. The Court of Tax Appeals b. The Sandiganbayan The Constitution also provides for 2 special legal bodies: a. the Judicial and the Bar Council b. the Tanodbayan

The Supreme Court -is the highest court in the land It is composed of 15 members the Chief Justice and 14 Associate justice . To be appointed a member of the Supreme Court, a person must the following qualifications: a. Be a natural-born citizen of the Philippines b. at least 40 years of age

c. A judge of record engaged in the practice of law for at least 15 years.

Supreme court holds its session in Manila and during the summer moths in Baguio City.

The members of the Supreme Court remain in office during good behavior until the age of 70 when they are retired Their salaries are fixed by law and cannot be decreased during their term of office . The Chief Justice receives an annual salary of P240,000 and each of the Associate Justices, P204,000 each.

Power of the Supreme Court : 1. It hears legal cases 2. It interprets the Constitution and can declare any treaty, executive order or legislative act 3. It is the Court of last appeal 4. It reviews al appeals on the sentences of life imprisonment and death 5. It can temporarily assign judges of lower courts to other places 6. It can a change of place of trial 7. It appoints judiciary officials and employees

8. It can discipline judges of lower courts or order their dismissal 9.It can promulgates rules on court procedure and practice, admission to the practice of law, the integrated Bar and legal aid for the poor

The Intermediate Appellate Court

-(replace the former Court of Appeal)

-It is composed of a Presiding Appellate Justice and 49 Associate Justices who are appointed by the president .This Court hears civil and criminal cases appealed from the Regional Trial Courts-(replace the former Courts of the first Instance) there are 13 of these courts one for each of the 13 regions.

Metropolitan Trial Court - replace the former city courts of the cities and municipalities. now called municipal courts The special Courts 1.The Court of tax Appeals -is composed of a Presiding Judge and two Associate judges . It has exclusive jurisdiction over tax cases appealed by private citizens and commercial firms who protest the amount of taxes imposed by the Bureau of Customs on their property or business 2. The Sandiganbayan -is a special anti-graft court. It decides cases involving graft and corruption by government officials and employees.

Selection of Judges

The 1987 Constitution created a

special judicial body called Judicial

and Bar Council .

This council was created to prevent the appointment by the President of judges who are political favorites only.

The Tanodbayan

-Also called as ombudsman was previously created

only by presidential decree ( P.D. No.1487 of June 11, 1978) The Tanodbayan investigates cases of graft and corruption in government. It acts as the prosecutor in bringing graft cases before the Sandiganbayan. the Tanodbayan and his deputies serve for 7 years without reappointment.