Basic Structures

There are two basic structures for legislative branches of

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

The Philippine Congress

The Philippine Congress is the country's legislative department
(Art. VI, Sec. 1)
Congress is bicameral
Upper House: Senate
Lower House: House of Representatives
.N.B.: Senators are Congressmen

The Legislative Branch

From the Latin lex, legis meaning law
The legislative branch broadly deals with the making, deliberation
over, enactment, amendment and repealing of laws

Senate
Composition 24 Senators elected at large
Qualification 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
Term 6 years
Maximum: 2 terms
May 2, 1987 - first eleated 24 senators
- served 5 years and end on June 30, 1992 - 12 noon
• May 1992 first 12 with highest number of votes - full term
(6years) expiring in 1998
Last 12 served for 3 years ended in 1995
• Be not completely dissolve

House of Representatives
Composition 200 district reps, 50 party list
Qualifications
Natural-born citizen
At least 25 years old on election day
Literate (can read and write) Registered voter of the district
District resident for 1 year prior to election day
Terms 3 years
Maximum: 3 terms

House of Representative
• Section 5. (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 or organizations

House of Representative
No. of district representative/80 x20 No. of partylist
representatives
The formulation" means that increase in the number of district
representatives, may be provided by law, will necessary result in
a corresponding increase in the number of party-list seats. To
illustrate, considering that there were 208 district representatives
to be elected during the 1998 national election, the number of
Party-list would be 52, computed as follow.
208/.80 ×.20=52
80 = (80%) Number of district Representatives
.20 = (20%) Number of Party-list Representative

House of Representative
18th Congress of the Philippines
Seats - 304 representatives
243 from congressional districts
61 party-list representatives

In Case of Vacancy...
Vacancy can be filled through regular election
Special elections can be called for the purpose of filling the
vacancy
In either circumstance, the one elected merely sits for the
unexpired term

Structure and Dynamics

Senate President and House Speaker elected by 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

Officers of the Senate

• President
• President Pro-tempore
Majority Floor Leader
Minority Floor Leader
Secretary
Sgt. -at-Arms

Officers of The House of Representatives

Speaker
. Deputy Speakers
• Majority Floor Leader
Minority Floor Leader

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 years imprisonment
2. Privilege of speech and debate- Immunity from libel and
slander

Its Sessions
Regular Session - scheduled for a special period of time each
year
•Special Session - called by the president at any time
Joint Session - it refers to when both houses of a bicameral
legislature sit together.