LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT CONSTITUTION IN ORDER

RANDOM NOTE: The goal is not to make it fast, the goal is to make it stick.

SEC. 1- Legislative Power vested in the 2 Houses. Except to the extent reserved to
the people through Initiative or Referendum

The legislative power shall be vested in the Congress of the Philippines which
shall
consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives, except to the extent reserved
to
the people by the provision on initiative and referendum.

INITIATIVE
is the power of the people to propose amendments to the Constitution or to propose
and enact legislations through an election called for the purpose.

Story:
HUNGER
People are hungry.
So registered voters want to take action.
They want to propose amend the constitution. To add a provision about the right to
feed
They want to propose to enact a legislation that makes it a crime to allow people
to get hungry
They want to propose to enact a regional, provincial, city, municipal, or barangay
law, resolution, and ordinance at the same time to combat hunger.

They don't want an indirect initiative. They don't trust the Congress and local
legislative bodies to act. They much rather do the proposal than to propose any
legislative body.

They need 10% of the total number of registered voters, of which every legislative
district is represented by at least 3% of the registered voters thereof.

But for the Constitutional amendment, they need 12% of the total number of
registered voters. It's the year 1993, so they can do it as its after 5 years from
the ratification of the 1987 Constitution.

They 10% 3% rule applies like this:

National: 10% national 3% legislative district
Provincial or City: 10% province 3% legislative district
Provincial or City with 1 legislative district: 10% province 3% all municipalities
(for province) and barangays (for city)
Municipality: 10% municipality 3% barangays
Barangay: 10% and 3% household loljk on household

They were readying the signatures when a young law student tells them that there is
yet to be any implementing law relating to an initiative to amend the Constitution.
He cited Santiago vs COMELEC wherein the court stated:
"R.A. No. 6735 is incomplete, inadequate, or wanting in essential terms and
conditions insofar as initiative on amendments to the Constitution is concerned.
Its lacunae on this substantive matter are fatal and cannot be cured by
"empowering" the COMELEC "to promulgate such rules and regulations as may be
necessary to carry out the purposes of [the] Act."

Because RA 6735 is lacking in terms and condition regarding initiative to amend the
Constitution, a delegation to the COMELEC regarding initiatives to propose
amendments to the Constitution is void.
But a lawyer seemingly corrects the law student and cites Lambino vs COMELEC
wherein Ten justices reiterated that RA 6735 is sufficient and adequate as an
enabling to amend the Constitution through a people’s initiative. Chief Justice
Artemio V. Panganiban and Justices Consuelo Ynares-Santiago and Adolfo S. Azcuna
joined their dissenting colleagues — Senior Associate Justice Reynato S. Puno, and
Justices Leonardo A. Quisumbing, Renato C. Corona, Dante O. Tinga, Minita V. Chico-
Nazario, Cancio C. Garcia, and Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr. — in ruling that RA 6735
suffices as an enabling law to implement the constitutional provision on people’s
initiative.

The law student however counters this again by saying that the Lambino case refused
to revisit or reverse the Santiago ruling:
According to Section 4(3), Article VIII of the Constitution, a doctrine of law laid
down in a decision rendered by the Supreme Court en banc may not be reversed except
if it is acting en banc. The majority opinion in Lambino v.Commission on Elections
(505 SCRA 160 [2006], refused to re-examine the ruling in Santiago v. Commission on
Elections (270 SCRA 106 [1997], because it was not
necessary for deciding the case. The Justices who voted to reverse the ruling
constituted the minority.

He also advised them that Constitutional revisions cannot happen through people's
initiatives, only Constitutional amendments which has yet to have an implementing
law.
The Lambino initiative constituted a revision because it proposed to change the
form of government from presidential to parliamentary and the bicameral to a
unicameral legislature. Thus, the people’s initiative as a mode to effect these
proposed amendments was invalid

So the people now agreed that there is little chance that their initiative to
propose a Constitutional amendment will be successful. However, they will still try
as the current Supreme Court may rule that RA 6735 is indeed enough s it is not
clear whether it is unconstitutional or not.

Nevertheless, they shall continue. They already informed the COMELEC who shall set
a special registration at least three weeks before a scheduled initiative or
referendum according to Sec. 6 of RA 6735.

For the enactment of their national statutes, the people are aware of the
prohibitions:
(a) No petition embracing more than one (1) subject shall be submitted to the
electorate;(this prohibition is not shared with a local initiative) and
(b) Statutes involving emergency measures, the enactment of which are specifically
vested in Congress by the Constitution, cannot be subject to referendum until
ninety (90) days after its effectivity.

They are also aware of the elements of a valid petition for a people’s initiative
are the following:
1. At least twelve per cent (12%) of the registered voters, of which every
legislative
district must be represented by at least three per cent (3%) of the registered
voters in it,zq
should directly sign the entire proposal; and
2. The draft of the proposed amendment must be embodied in the petition (Lambino v.
Commission on Elections, 505 SCRA 160 [2006]).

They are also aware that this battle in the local level may be won without a DIRECT
initiative but with an INDIRECT one:
Not less than two thousand (2,000) registered voters in case of autonomous regions,

one thousand (1,000) in case of provinces and cities,

one hundred (100) in case of municipalities, and
fifty (50) in case of barangays,
may file a petition with the Regional Assembly or local legislative body,
respectively, proposing the adoption, enactment, repeal, or amendment, of any law,
ordinance or resolution.

If no favorable action thereon is made by local legislative body within thirty (30)
days from its presentation, the proponents through their duly authorized and
registered representative may invoke their power of initiative, giving notice
thereof to the local legislative body concerned.

However, because no favorable action was taken, they had no choice but to gather
the votes for an initiative.

The good thing for local initiatives is that two or more propositions may be
submitted in an initiative, unlike in national legislations.

There are limitations however:

(a) The power of local initiative shall not be exercised more than once a year.
(b) Initiative shall extend only to subjects or matters which are within the legal
powers of the local legislative bodies to enact.
(c) If at any time before the initiative is held, the local legislative body shall
adopt in toto the proposition presented, the initiative shall be cancelled.
However, those against such action may, if they so
desire, apply for initiative in the manner herein provided.

As well as limitations on the local legislative bodies if they ever feel like being
evil:
Any proposition or ordinance or resolution approved through the system of
initiative and referendum as herein provided shall not be repealed, modified or
amended, by the local legislative body concerned within six (6) months from the
date therefrom, and may be amended, modified or repealed by the local legislative
body within three (3) years thereafter by a vote of three-fourths (3/4) of all its
members: Provided, however, That in case of barangays, the period shall be one (1)
year after the expiration of the first six (6) months
In short, the time to modify the local law is within 6months-3years and for
barangays it shall be 6months-1year

ALAS, the time has come that the people have been waiting for, the results of the
voting:
1. The initiative on the Constitutional amendment garnered 53% of all registered
voters but was declared void nevertheless because the Supreme Court declared that
there is yet to be an adequate and complete implementing law on the matter. It
could have been effective as to the day of the plebiscite.
2. The initiative on a national statute garnered the majority of votes and was thus
effective fifteen (15) days after certification and proclamation by the Commission.
The President does not like this but he has no choice, repeal of a national law
or passage of a law through initiative and referendum cannot be vetoed by the
President.
3. The initiative on the local ordinances on all levels were also successful and
was also effective fifteen (15) days after certification and proclamation by the
Commission.

The people are enjoying their victory against hunger. Now their next step is to
conduct an initiative that will enact an implementing law for initiatives on
Constitutional amendments.
REFERENDUM
is the power of the electorate to approve or reject a legislation through an
election called for the purpose. It may be of two classes, namely:

1 Referendum on statutes which refers to a petition to approve or reject an act or

law, or part thereof, passed by Congress; and

2 Referendum on local law which refers to a petition to approve or reject a law,

resolution or ordinance enacted by regional assemblies and local legislative
bodies.

This is initiated by legislative bodies and is barely used because it needs money
and it is unpredictable as legislators have their own agenda which they can control
through voting within their ranks and not through the people. (opinion)

SEC. 2- SENATE COMPOSITION

The Senate shall be composed of twenty-four Senators who shall be elected at large
by the qualified voters of the Philippines, as may be provided by law.

SEC. 3- SENATOR QUALIFICATIONS

No person shall be a Senator unless he is a natural-born citizen of the
Philippines,
and, on the day of the election, is at least thirty-five years of age, able to read
and
write, a registered voter, and a resident of the Philippines for not less than two
years
immediately preceding the day of the election.

SEC. 4-TERM
The term of office of the Senators shall be six years and shall commence, unless
otherwise provided by law, at noon on the thirteenth day of June next following
their
election.

No Senator shall serve for more than two consecutive terms. Voluntary renunciation
of the office for any length of time shall not be considered as an interruption in
the
continuity of his service for the full term for which he was elected.

Story for Sections: 2-3-4

SERVICE
Year 2013, month of January, A young man from Iloilo just finished his master's
degree in law. He arrived at his home to be greeted with warm embraces from his
friends and family.
There was an unknown face that greeted him and he wondered who that was.
It was actually former Senator Saguisag, who wanted the young man to run for
Senate. He was confident that the young man can become one of the 24 legislators in
the Senate.
The young man declines, saying that he is only 34 years of age.
But Saguisag corrects him, he will be 35 on the day immediately preceding the
election held in the 2nd Monday of May.
Saguisag also tell him that he is a resident of Iloilo for at least 2 years before
the elections and that he can read and write obviously.
The young man tells Saguisag that there is a problem: he is not a registered voter.
Saguisag says "do not worry, you can still register before election time."
But the young man says he is not ready for 6 years of service!
Saguisag replies: "No you are not. You are ready for 12!"

SEC. 5- HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STRUCTURE, SIZE, SELECTION

1. The House of Representatives shall be composed of not more than two hundred
and fifty members, unless otherwise fixed by law, who shall be elected from
legislative districts apportioned among the provinces, cities, and the
Metropolitan Manila area in accordance with the number of their respective
inhabitants, and on the basis of a uniform and progressive ratio, and those who,
as provided by law, shall be elected through a party-list system of registered
national, regional, and sectoral parties of organizations.

2. The party-list representatives shall constitute twenty per centum of the total
number of representatives including those under the party list. For three
consecutive terms after the ratification of this Constitution, one-half of the
seats allocated to party-list representatives shall be filled, as provided by law,
by
selection or election from the labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural
communities, women, youth, and such other sectors as may be provided by law,
except the religious sector.

3. Each legislative district shall comprise, as far as practicable, contiguous,

compact, and adjacent territory. Each city with a population of at least two
hundred fifty thousand, or each province, shall have at least one representative.

4. Within three years following the return of every census, the Congress shall
make a reapportionment of legislative districts based on the standards provided
in this section.

SEC. 6- HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES QUALIFICATIONS

No person shall be a Member of the House of Representatives unless he is a
natural-born citizen of the Philippines and, on the day of the election, is at
least
twenty-five years of age, able to read and write, and, except the party-list
representatives, a registered voter in the district in which he shall be elected,
and a
resident thereof for a period of not less than one year immediately preceding the
day
of the election

Story:

SERVICE
But change the age to 25 and specify the registered voter in the district (except
party-list). Also change the residency to not less than one(1) year

SEC. 7- TERM
The Members of the House of Representatives shall be elected for a term of three
years which shall begin, unless otherwise provided by law, at noon on the thirtieth
day of June next following their election.
No Member of the House of Representatives shall serve for more than three
consecutive terms. Voluntary renunciation of the office for any length of time
shall
not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of his service for the full
term
for which he was elected.

RECAP:
1-Legislative Power vested in Congress except when such powers are reserved to the
people through INITIATIVE and REFERENDUM
2-3-4-- Composition, qualification, term SENATE
5-6-7-- Composition, qualification, term HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEC. 8- ELECTION TIME

Unless otherwise provided by law, the regular election of the Senators and the
Members of the House of Representatives shall be held on the second Monday of
May.

MEMORY: EIGHT (IT) IS ELECTION TIME!

SEC. 9- REPLACEMENT IN CASE OF VACANCY

In case of vacancy in the Senate or in the House of Representatives, a special
election
may be called to fill such vacancy in the manner prescribed by law, but the Senator
or
Member of the House of Representatives thus elected shall serve only for the
unexpired term.

MEMORY: LUCKY 9! Lucky for an aspiring senator because a vacancy occurred

SEC. 10- SALARIES/ BARRIER TO INCREASE OF SALARY

The salaries of Senators and Members of the House of Representatives shall be
determined by law. No increase in said compensation shall take effect until after
the
expiration of the full term of all the Members of the Senate and the House of
Representatives approving such increase.

MEMORY: TEN PESO COIN: MONEY: SALARY

SEC. 11- IMMUNITY FROM ARREST, PRIVILEGE OF SPEECH AND DEBATE

A Senator or Member of the House of Representatives shall, in all offenses
punishable by not more than six years imprisonment, be privileged from arrest while
the Congress is in session. No Member shall be questioned nor be held liable in any
other place for any speech or debate in the Congress or in any committee thereof.

MEMORY: OCEAN'S ELEVEN

SEC 12- FULL DISCLOSURE OF FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS INTERESTS

All Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives shall, upon assumption
of office, make a full disclosure of their financial and business interests. They
shall
notify the House concerned of a potential conflict of interest that may arise from
the
filing of a proposed legislation of which they are authors.

MEMORY: DWIGHT HOWARD #12 BECAUSE HE HAS A LOT OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

SEC 13- INCOMPATIBLE AND FORBIDDEN OFFICE

No Senator or Member of the House of Representatives may hold any other office or
employment in the Government, or any subdivision, agency, or instrumentality
thereof, including government-owned or controlled corporations or their
subsidiaries, during his term without forfeiting his seat. Neither shall he be
appointed to any office which may have been created or the emoluments thereof
increased during the term for which he was elected.

First part is incompatible: ANY OTHER OFFICE IN GOVERNMENT

If he chooses to hold any other office in the Government, the lawmaker may do so
but he will to forfeit his seat.
EXCEPTION: Ex officio capacity
However, no forfeiture shall take place if the member of Congress holds the other
government office in an ex officio capacity,
e.g., membership in the Board of Regents of the University of the Philippines of
the Chairman, Committee on Education, in the Senate

Second part is forbidden: OFFICE CREATED OR EMOLUMENTS INCREASED DURING THE TERM HE
WAS ELECTED
He can never hold this type of office. Thus, forbidden.
NOTES:
-After such term, and even if he is re- elected, the disqualification no longer
applies and he may therefore be appointed to the office
-Prohibition does not apply if the increase in salary applies to all offices. i.e.
salary standardization law.

MEMORY: UNLUCKY 13- FORBEIDDEN AND INCOMPATIBLE

OTHER INHIBITIONS:

SEC 12 found above

SEC 14- BAR FROM APPEARING PERSONALLY AS COUNSEL, BAR FROM FINANCIAL INTEREST IN
ANY GOVERNMENT ENTITY, BAR FROM INTERVENING IN GOVERNMENT MATTERS FOR HIS BENEFIT
No Senator or Member of the House of Representatives may personally appear as
counsel before any court of justice or before the Electoral Tribunals, or quasi-
judicial
and other administrative bodies. Neither shall he, directly or indirectly, be
interested
financially in any contract with, or in any franchise or special privilege granted
by the
Government, or any subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including any
government-owned or controlled corporation, or its subsidiary, during his term of
office. He shall not intervene in any matter before any office of the Government
for
his pecuniary benefit or where he may be called upon to act on account of his
office.

MEMORY: SIGNIFICANT NUMBER 14- MANY PROHIBITIONS INCLUDING BAR TO PERSONALLY

APPEARING AS LAWYER

SEC 15- DATE OF START OF REGULAR SESSION. PRESIDENT MAY CALL FOR A SPECIAL SESSION
The Congress shall convene once every year on the fourth Monday of July for its
regular session, unless a different date is fixed by law, and shall continue to be
in
session for such number of days as it may determine until thirty days before the
opening of its next regular session, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal
holidays. The President may call a special session at any time.
MEMORY: 15 Sweldo. Start gasto mga tawo. Start sng Inuman session na itu.

SEC 16-
MAJORITY VOTE FOR SENATE PRESIDENT OR SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
MAJORITY AS QUORUM TO DO BUSINESS
2/3 VOTE FOR SUSPENSION/EXPULSION
60 DAYS MAX SUSPENSION
1/5 VOTE FOR RECORD OF YEAS AND NAYS
3 DAYS MAX ADJOURNMENT WITHOUT CONSENT

1. The Senate shall elect its President and the House of Representatives its
Speaker, by a majority vote of all its respective Members.
Each House shall choose such other officers as it may deem necessary.

2. A majority of each House shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller

number may adjourn from day to day and may compel the attendance of absent
Members in such manner, and under such penalties, as such House may provide.

3. Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its Members for
disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds of all its Members,
suspend or expel a Member. A penalty of suspension, when imposed, shall not
exceed sixty days.

4. Each House shall keep a Journal of its proceedings, and from time to time
publish the same, excepting such parts as may, in its judgment, affect national
security; and the yeas and nays on any question shall, at the request of one-fifth
of the Members present, be entered in the Journal.

Each House shall also keep a Record of its proceedings.

5. Neither House during the sessions of the Congress shall, without the consent of
the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in
which the two Houses shall be sitting.

NOTE: REFERS TO POLITICAL UNIT

The phrase “any other place” as here used refers not to the building but to the
political unit
where the two Houses may be sitting. Hence, if both Houses are sitting in the same
building in the
City of Manila, either of them may sit in another building in the same city without
getting the
consent of the other.

MEMORY:NOT SO SWEET 16--- SO MEYNEEEH

ENROLLED BILL THEORY: Enrolled Bill Theory. An enrolled bill is one duly
introduced and finally passed by both Houses, authenticated by the proper officers
of each, and approved by the President.

The enrolled bill is conclusive upon the courts as regards the tenor of the measure
passed by Congress and approved by the President. Court is bound under the doctrine
of separation of powers by the contents of a duly authenticated measure of the
legislature
-Mabanag v. Lopez Vito; Arroyo v. De Venecia,

If a mistake was made in the printing of the bill before it was certified by
Congress and approved by the President, the remedy is
amendment or corrective legislation, not a judicial decree
-Casco vs Gimenez

ENROLLED BILL VS JOURNAL:

Enrolled bill prevails, except as to matters which, under the Constitution, must be
entered in the Journal.
-Astorga v. Villegas

Matters that must be entered in Journal:

Yeas and Nays!

SEC 17- SET and HRET

69-- 6/9 members must come from the same house. 3 from the SC
PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION

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. Each Electoral Tribunal shall be
composed of nine Members, three of whom shall be Justices of the Supreme Court to
be designated by the Chief Justice, and the remaining six shall be Members of the
Senate or the House of Representatives, as the case may be, who shall be chosen on
the basis of proportional representation from the political parties and the parties
or
organizations registered under the party-list system represented therein. The
senior
Justice in the Electoral Tribunal shall be its Chairman.

MEMORY: SEC 17 looks like SET

HRET and SET members enjoy security of tenure; their membership may not be
terminated except for a just cause such as the expiration of congressional term,
death, resignation from the political party, formal affiliation with another
political
party, or removal for other valid causes
-Bondoc v. Pineda and Tanada vs Cuenco

NOTE: CERTIORARI CANNOT COMPEL A SENATOR TRIBUNAL MEMBER TO BE DISQUALIFIED FOR

BEING RESPONDENTS TO THE CASE
REASON:
To our mind, this is the overriding consideration—that the Tribunal be not
prevented from discharging a duty which it alone has the power to perform, the
performance of which is in the highest public interest as evidenced by its being
expressly imposed by no less than the fundamental law.

It is aptly noted in the first of the questioned Resolutions that the framers of
the Constitution could not have been unaware of the possibility of an election
contest that would involve all 24 Senators-elect, six of whom would inevitably have
to sit in judgment thereon. Indeed, such possibility might surface again in the
wake of the 1992 elections when once more, but for the last time, all 24 seats in
the Senate will be at stake. Yet the Constitution provides no scheme or mode for
settling such unusual situations or for the substitution of Senators designated to
the Tribunal whose disqualification may be sought. Litigants in such situations
must simply place their trust and hopes of vindication in the fairness and sense of
justice of the Members of the Tribunal. Justices and Senators, singly and
collectively.
-Abbas vs SET
WAIT FOR THE HOUSE OR SENATE SUBMIT THE HRET OR SET LIST BEFORE COMPLAINING OF NO
PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION
Thus, even assuming that party-list representatives comprise a sufficient number
and have agreed to designate common nominees to the HRET and the CA, their primary
recourse clearly rests with the House of Representatives and not with this Court.
Under Sections 17 and 18, Article VI of the Constitution, party-list
representatives must first show to the House that they possess the required
numerical strength to be entitled to seats in the HRET and the CA. Only if the
House fails to comply with the directive of the Constitution on proportional
representation of political parties in the HRET and the CA can the party-list
representatives seek recourse to this Court under its power of judicial review.
Under the doctrine of primary jurisdiction, prior recourse to the House is
necessary before petitioners may bring the instant case to the court. Consequently,
petitioners’ direct recourse to this Court is premature.

The instant petitions are bereft of any allegation that respondents prevented the
party-list groups in the House from participating in the election of members of the
HRET and the CA. Neither does it appear that after the May 11, 1998 elections, the
House barred the party-list representatives from seeking membership in the HRET or
the CA. Rather, it appears from the available facts that the party-list groups in
the House at that time simply refrained from participating in the election process.
The party-list representatives did not designate their nominees even up to the time
they filed the instant petitions, with the predictable result that the House did
not consider any party-list representative for election to the HRET or the CA. As
the primary recourse of the party-list representatives lies with the House of
Representatives, ‘the Court cannot resolve the issues presented by petitioners at
this time.
-Pimentel vs HRET

SEC 18- COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS

30 session days must act

There shall be a Commission on Appointments consisting of the President of the

Senate, as ex officio Chairman, twelve Senators, and twelve Members of the House
of Representatives, elected by each House on the basis of proportional
representation from the political parties and parties or organizations registered
under the party-list system represented therein. The Chairman of the Commission
shall not vote, except in case of a tie. The Commission shall act on all
appointments
submitted to it within thirty session days of the Congress from their submission.
The
Commission shall rule by a majority vote of all the Members.

MEMORY: 18 years old. Can be appointed or something like that lol

NOTE: SET HRET and CA must have proportional representation

SEC 19- SET HRET and CA Constitution- 30 days after election of Senate President
and House Speaker
Only while in session
Chairman's or majority's call-- kha khaaa!

The Electoral Tribunals and the Commission on Appointments shall be constituted

within thirty days after the Senate and the House of Representatives shall have
been
organized with the election of the President and the Speaker. The Commission on
Appointments shall meet only while the Congress is in session, at the call of its
Chairman or a majority of all its Members, to discharge such powers and functions
as
are herein conferred upon it.

MEMORY: Start doing big boy duties after turning 18

SEC 20- BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS OPEN TO PUBLIC

Complement to Sec 10 because even if allowances are allowed, the public will know
who are the pigs

The records and books of accounts of the Congress shall be preserved and be open
to the public in accordance with law, and such books shall be audited by the
Commission on Audit which shall publish annually an itemized list of amounts paid
to
and expenses incurred for each Member.

MEMORY: Benyte. complement sa diyes

SEC 21- INVESTIGATION IN AID OF LEGISLATION

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. The rights of persons appearing in or affected by such inquiries shall
be
respected.

MEMORY: YOu got dis

SEC 22- QUESTION HOUR

The heads of departments may upon their own initiative, with the consent of the
President, or upon the request of either House, as the rules of each House shall
provide, appear before and be heard by such House on any matter pertaining to their
departments. Written questions shall be submitted to the President of the Senate or
the Speaker of the House of Representatives at least three days before their
scheduled appearance. Interpellations shall not be limited to written questions,
but
may cover matters related thereto. When the security of the State or the public
interest so requires and the President so states in writing, the appearance shall
be
conducted in executive session.

MEMORY: YOu got dis

SEC 23- DECLARE THE EXISTENCE OF A STATE OF WAR/ EMERGENCY POWERS

1. The Congress, by a vote of two-thirds of both Houses in joint session assembled,

voting separately, shall have the sole power to declare the existence of a state of
war.
2. In times of war or other national emergency, the Congress may, by law,
authorize the President, for a limited period and subject to such restrictions as
it
may prescribe, to exercise powers necessary and proper to carry out a declared
national policy. Unless sooner withdrawn by resolution of the Congress, such
powers shall cease upon the next adjournment thereof.

MEMORY: MICHAEL JORDAN WARFREAK

SEC 24- ART BILLS, INCREASE OF DEBT BILLS, LOCAL APPLICATION BILLS, AND PRIVATE
BILLS MUST ORIGINATE FROM HOUSE OF REP

All appropriation, revenue or tariff bills, bills authorizing increase of the

public debt,
bills of local application, and private bills shall originate exclusively in the
House of
Representatives, but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments.

MEMORY: KOBE BRYANT ARTISTIC SHOOTS FIRST

Sec 25
• Spending bills
1. The Congress may not increase the appropriations recommended by the
President for the operation of the Government as specified in the budget. The
form, content, and manner of preparation of the budget shall be prescribed by
law.
2. No provision or enactment shall be embraced in the general appropriations bill
unless it relates specifically to some particular appropriation therein. Any such
provision or enactment shall be limited in its operation to the appropriation to
which it relates.
3. The procedure in approving appropriations for the Congress shall strictly follow
the procedure for approving appropriations for other departments and
agencies.
4. A special appropriations bill shall specify the purpose for which it is
intended,
and shall be supported by funds actually available as certified by the National
Treasurer, or to be raised by a corresponding revenue proposal therein.
5. No law shall be passed authorizing any transfer of appropriations; however, the
President, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the heads of
Constitutional Commissions may, by law, be authorized to augment any item in
the general appropriations law for their respective offices from savings in other
items of their respective appropriations.
6. Discretionary funds appropriated for particular officials shall be disbursed
only
for public purposes to be supported by appropriate vouchers and subject to such
guidelines as may be prescribed by law.
7. If, by the end of any fiscal year, the Congress shall have failed to pass the
general
appropriations bill for the ensuing fiscal year, the general appropriations law for
the preceding fiscal year shall be deemed reenacted and shall remain in force
and effect until the general appropriations bill is passed by the Congress.
Sec 26
1. Every bill passed by the Congress shall embrace only one subject which shall be
expressed in the title thereof.
2. No bill passed by either House shall become a law unless it has passed three
readings on separate days, and printed copies thereof in its final form have been
distributed to its Members three days before its passage, except when the
President certifies to the necessity of its immediate enactment to meet a public
calamity or emergency. Upon the last reading of a bill, no amendment thereto
shall be allowed, and the vote thereon shall be taken immediately thereafter,
and the yeas and nays entered in the Journal.

Sec 27
1. Every bill passed by the Congress shall, before it becomes a law, be presented
to
the President. If he approves the same, he shall sign it; otherwise, he shall veto
it
and return the same with his objections to the House where it originated, which
shall enter the objections at large in its Journal and proceed to reconsider it.
If,
after such reconsideration, two-thirds of all the Members of such House shall
agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the
other
House by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds
of all the Members of that House, it shall become a law. In all such cases, the
votes of each House shall be determined by yeas or nays, and the names of the
Members voting for or against shall be entered in its Journal. The President shall
communicate his veto of any bill to the House where it originated within thirty
days after the date of receipt thereof; otherwise, it shall become a law as if he
had signed it.
• Division of labor between chambers
• Approval of general legislation
• Initiation of general legislation
• Veto override procedure
2. The President shall have the power to veto any particular item or items in an
appropriation, revenue, or tariff bill, but the veto shall not affect the item or
items to which he does not object.
• Approval of general legislation
Sec 28
1. The rule of taxation shall be uniform and equitable. The Congress shall evolve a
progressive system of taxation.
2. The Congress may, by law, authorize the President to fix within specified
limits,
and subject to such limitations and restrictions as it may impose, tariff rates,
import and export quotas, tonnage and wharfage dues, and other duties or
imposts within the framework of the national development program of the
Government.
3. Charitable institutions, churches and parsonages or convents appurtenant
thereto, mosques, non-profit cemeteries, and all lands, buildings, and
improvements, actually, directly, and exclusively used for religious, charitable,
or
educational purposes shall be exempt from taxation.
• Tax status of religious organizations
4. No law granting any tax exemption shall be passed without the concurrence of a
majority of all the Members of the Congress.
Sec 29
1. No money shall be paid out of the Treasury except in pursuance of an
appropriation made by law.
2. No public money or property shall be appropriated, applied, paid, or employed,
directly or indirectly, for the use, benefit, or support of any sect, church,
denomination, sectarian institution, or system of religion, or of any priest,
preacher, minister, or other religious teacher, or dignitary as such, except when
such priest, preacher, minister, or dignitary is assigned to the armed forces, or
to
any penal institution, or government orphanage or leprosarium.
3. All money collected on any tax levied for a special purpose shall be treated as
a
special fund and paid out for such purpose only. If the purpose for which a
special fund was created has been fulfilled or abandoned, the balance, if any,
shall be transferred to the general funds of the Government.
Sec 30
No law shall be passed increasing the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
as
provided in this Constitution without its advice and concurrence.

Sec 31
No law granting a title of royalty or nobility shall be enacted.
Sec 32
• Legislative initiatives by citizens
• Referenda
The Congress shall, as early as possible, provide for a system of initiative and
referendum, and the exceptions therefrom, whereby the people can directly propose
and enact laws or approve or reject any act or law or part thereof passed by the
Congress or local legislative body after the registration of a petition therefor
signed
by at least ten per centum of the total number of registered voters, of which every
legislative district must be represented by at least three per centum of the
registered voters thereof.