BRANCHES OF

GOVERNMENT
The executive
branch

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> The Executive Branch of Government is tasked to
impliment the laws of the State.
> The constitution assigns the powers of the
executive branch to the president of the
Republic.

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 The president

> The President is elected nationally, and shall

serve for a six-year term without reelection
> He/she is tasked with appointing the members of
the Cabinet and the different departments.
> The President also serves as the Commander-in-
Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

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 The Vice president

> Also the Vice President is elected nationally, and

serve for a six-year term without reelection.
> He/she is directly replaces the President in case
of death, permanent disability, removal from
office, or resignation of the latter.
> The Vice President may also be given a separate
position in the Cabinet.
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 The
legislative
branch

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> Also known as the Congress of the Philippines.
> It is responsible for the creation of laws to be
enacted and followed throughout the state.
> Congress is bicameral in nature, which means it
is divided into two separate assemblies.

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 The senate

> The Philippine Senate composed of 24 senators

elected nationally.
> Each senator serves a six-year term and may be
reelected up to a second term of office.

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 The house of representatives

> The House of Representatives is composed of 250

members.
> The majority of these members are district
representatives who are elected by their
respective constituents in 234 legislative
districts throughout the country.

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 The house of representatives

> The remaining seats are taken by party-list

representatives, who come from various sectors
of society.
- These include the youth, laborers, framers,
and teachers, among others.

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 The house of representatives

> Unlike the district representatives, party-list

representatives are elected nationally.
> All of the members of the House of
Representatives serve a three-year term and
may be reelected up to a third term of office.

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The judicial
branch

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> The Judicial Branch of the Government acts as
the ultimate arbiter for questions of political,
legal, or constitutional nature.
> The judiciary is made up of the Supreme Court
and other lower courts in the country.

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 The supreme court

> The Supreme Court is comprised of the Chief

Justice and 14 Associate Justices.
> The Chief Justice and the Associate Justices are
not elected by the people, instead they are
appointed by the President based on the
recommended list of nominees presented by the
Judicial and Bar Council.

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 The supreme court

> These nominees are expected to practiced law or

served as judges in a lower court for at least
fifteen years.
> The terms of the Chief Justice and Associate
Justices end upon reaching the age of 70 or when
they are removed from office through
impeachment.

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 Separation of
powers; check and
balances
 Separation of powers

> Separation of powers refers to the principle that

divides government powers into three distinct,
separate branches.
> This was intended to prevent once branch from
gaining too much power and ensure that its
actions do not go beyond the scope defined by the
constitution.

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 Check and balances

> Check and balances is a related principle which

states the branches of government are able to
impose limits on each other’s powers and ensure
that one branch acts with the knowledge and
consent of the other branches.

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 Executive checks and balances the legislative:

> Approves legislation by signing a bill into law.

> Exercises veto power over a bill or parts of a bill.

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 Executive checks and balances the judiciary:

> Reviews the credentials of nominees and appoints

the Justices of the Supreme Court
> Grants pardons and amnesties (with consent
from Congress)

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 legislative checks and balances the executive:

> Reverses the President’s veto

> Grants consent or authorization to the President
regarding specific matters
> Reviews and approves Presidential appointments
to the Cabinet, Constitutional Commissions,
government offices, and other bodies

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 legislative checks and balances the executive:

> May invalidate the declaration of martial law

> Canvasses votes as National Board of Canvassers
> Initiates and conducts impeachment proceedings
against the President and Vice President

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 legislative checks and balances the judiciary:

> Determine court jurisdictions

> Sets the qualifications of members of the lower
courts
> Initiates and conducts impeachment proceedings
against the members of the Supreme Court

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 judiciary checks and balances the executive:

> Decides on the constitutionality of executive

orders, proclamations, executive actions

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 judiciary checks and balances the legislative:

> Decides on the constitutionality of laws passed

> Constitutes part of the Electoral Tribunals that
decide on electoral protests

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 The
constitutional
commissions
 Constitutional commissions

> Article IX of the 1987 Constitution provides for

the creation of the Constitutional Commissions
namely:
- Civil Service Commission (CSC)
- Commission on Elections (COMELEC)
- Commission on Audit (COA)
- Commission on Human Rights (CHR)

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 Constitutional commissions

> These commissions play an important role in

ensuring a system of check and balances in the
government because they take charge of the
vital functions and processes such as hiring
government personnel, administering elections,
and reviewing the use of public funds.

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 Civil service commission

> The central personnel agency of the government

and is tasked with hiring the employees of the
various government offices.
> The commission also defines the responsibilities
of government employees and ensures their
accountability.

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 Civil service commission

> The Commission administers the Civil Service

Examination, which is a test taken by those who
wish to work for the government.
> The Commission is headed by a Chairman and two
Commissioners, who are appointed by the
President.

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 Commission on elections

> In charge of facilitating and supervising the

conduct of elections in the country.
> The COMELEC also administers plebiscites,
initiatives, referenda, and recall elections.
> The Commission is headed by a Chairman and six
Commissioners who are appointed by the
President.
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 Commission on elections

> In charge of facilitating and supervising the

conduct of elections in the country.
> The COMELEC also administers plebiscites,
initiatives, referenda, and recall elections.
> The Commission is headed by a Chairman and six
Commissioners who are appointed by the
President.
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 Commission on audit

> Responsible for reviewing and settling accounts

on the revenue and expenditures of the offices
and agencies of the government.
> COA has the power to disallow irregular,
unnecessary, excessive, extravagant or
unconscionable expenses and used og
government funds and properties.

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 Commission on audit

> It is also tasked with submitting an annual report

detailing the financial status and operation of
the government and its other offices.
> The COA is headed by a Chairman and two
Commissioners who are appointed by the
President.

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 Commission on human rights

> An independent commission empowered to

investigate all forms of human rights violations
involving civil and political rights.
> It looks into cases involving the rights of the
accused and the underpreviliged and provides
legal aid to victims of human rights abuses.

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 Commission on human rights

> It monitors the government’s compliance with

international treaty obligations in human rights
and recommends measures to promote human
rights and provide compensation for victims.
> The CHR is composed of a Chairman and four
Commissioners appointed by the President.

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The end

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