Legislative branch

regular elections: 2nd Monday of may

day of preciding: june 30th

Upper House of the Congress-composed of 24 Senators

-Senator(6 years)-can’t serve for more than 2 consecutive terms

1. at least 35 years of age

2. a registered voter of the Philippines

3. a natural born citizen of the Philippines

4. can read and write

5. a resident of the Philippines for at least 2 years prior to day of election

POWERS:

1. General legislative powers-enact laws

2. Specific powers- powers which the constitution expressly directs
3. Implied powers- punish for contempt, determine the rules for proceeding, conduct inquiry

-essential to the effective exercise of the powers expressly granted

4. Inherent power-power of taxation, eminent domain, police powers

Lower House of the Congress- composed of at most 250 representatives

-House of Representatives(3 years)-can’t serve for more than 3 consecutive terms

Qualifications

1. a natural born citizen of the Philippines

2. can read and write

3. a registered voter of the district he shall be elected

4. at least 25 years of age

5. a resident for at least a year in the district he will represent

FREEDOM FROM ARREST

1. If congress is in session
2. If crime is punishable for not more than 6 years

Quorum: ½ plus 1 of the members of the body-number that makes a body lawful

To suspend or expel member- 2/3

If penalty is suspension-it shall not exceed 60 days

Bill- a draft of a law

Statute- “Act”; a written will of the legislature

PARTS OF A BILL

1. Title
2. Preamble- introduction or preface
3. Enacting Clause- formal means of identifying body
4. Body-contains the proposed law or statute itself
5. Effective clause-providing the time when the law shall take effect

STEPS FOR THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL

1. Introduction
2. First Reading
3. Reference to the house committee
4. Second Reading
5. Printing and Redistribution
6. Third Reading
7. Referral to the other Chamber
8. Action by the President

HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW

1. If the president signs it

2. The president vetoes the law, yet the 2/3 of the congress vote otherwise
3. The president ignores it: fails to veto or sign within 30 days

Enrolled bill is printed upon approval of house of congress

ELECTORAL TRIBUNAL COMPOSITION

 3 supreme court justices

 3 members from each house

COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS COMPOSITION

1. Senate President
2. 12 members from Senate
3. 12 members from Lower House

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

President and Vice President Qualifications(6 years)

1. A natural born citizen of the Philippines

2. A registered voter of the Philippines
3. At least 40 years of age
4. A resident of the Philippines for at least 10 years prior to elections
5. Can read and write
Vice Pres: cannot serve for more than two successive terms

Pres: illegible to run again

No person who has succeeded and served for more than 4 years will be legible to run again for pres

Term: period of time an officer may claim rights to office

Tenure: actual period of time of service

Initial salary:

Pres: 300,000/annum

Vice president: 240,000/annum

RULES ON PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION

When Vice-President shall act as president

1. When president fails to qualify

2. If president shall not have been chosen
3. Temporary inability or incapacity of president to discharge powers

When VP shall be P

1. Death
2. Permanent disability
3. Resignation
4. Impeachment

If VP and P are unavailable Senate President shall act as President; if no SP is not available, then
Speaker of the House

ONLY VP IS LEGIBLE SUCCESSOR OF PRESIDENT

NO SPECIAL ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD IF VACANCY OCCURS 18 MONTHS BEFORE THE DATE OF THE NEXT
ELECTION

POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE

1. Appointing powers
2. Removal Power
3. Power of the president as the commander-in-chief of the AFP
4. Power to suspend privilege for the writ of habeas corpus-only in case of invasion or rebellion
5. Power to declare martial law
6. Pardoning power
a. Absolute
b. Conditional-conditions that offender must agree to

Commutation: the reduction of sentence imposed as punishment

JUDICIARY

Types of Courts

1. Constitutional
2. Statutory

Qualifications for supreme court membership

1. A natural born citizen of the Philippines

2. At least 40 years of age
3. Has been engaged for at least 15 years as a judge of the lower court, or engaged in the practice
of law in the Philippine

Grounds for impeachment

 Betrayal of Public trust

 Other high crimes
 Treason
 Graft and corruption
 Culpable violation of the constitution
 Bribery

Impeachable officials

 Member of the Constitutional commission

 Member of the supreme court
 President and vice president
 Ombudsman