PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE

SECOND QUARTER

THE LEGISLATIVE
Competency 2 :
Differentiate the roles and responsibilities of the Philippine Senate and House of Representative

ARTICLE VI of the 1987 Philippine Constitution -THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

Section 1. 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.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Philippine Senate and the House of Representatives
1. Lawmaking
 Three-phase process
- First Reading ( introduce the bill, study the bill, conduct public hearing)
- Second Reading (interpellation and plenary reading, voting with amendments)
- Third Reading ( voting without amendments))
Example: House ratifies Bangsamoro Organic Law

2. Representation
 24 Senators
- have national mandate
- Term of office is 6 years.
 260+ members of the House of Representatives
- represent specific constituents
- Term of office is 3 years.

3. Power of the Purse

 House of Representatives
- propose all appropriation, revenue on tariffs bills, bills authorizing increase of the public debt, bills of local application,
and private bills
Example: House passes proposed 2018 budget on final reading

4. Legislative oversight
 Congress performs this role through legislative inquiries and investigations of governmental operations
Example: House probe into Bilibid drugs

5.Legitimation Function
 Confirm certain appointments by the President through the Commission on Appointments
 Canvass the votes (for presidency and vice presidency)
 Proclaim the elected candidates with the highest votes
Example: Appointments body confirms Berna Romulo-Puyat as Tourism Secretary

6. Impeachment Function
The House of Representatives has the exclusive power to initiate impeachment cases while the Senate has the sole
power to try impeachment cases filed against the ff:
 president, vice-president, members of the Supreme Court, members of the constitutional commissions, and the
Ombudsman for culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graph and corruption, other high
crimes, or betrayal of the public trust.
Example: Philippine President Joseph Estrada is Impeached

7. Amendment or Revision of the Constitution

 requires Congress a vote of three-fourths of all its Members
 People initiative: at least 12 % of the total number of voters with 3% every legislative district
constitutional convention(2/3 votes of the Congress)
Performance Task
Choose 1 role or power of the legislative. Then, summarize an article from the newspaper, or internet that
shows the Legislative branch ( Senate or House of Representatives) performing this role or using this power .
Below is the format.

Name and Section:

Role or Power:
Title of the Article:
Source:
Summary: ( in 1 paragraph)

Assessment:
Directions: Read and understand each question. Write 7. Which has the “power of the purse”?
the letter that corresponds to the correct answer. A. Philippine Senate C. Legislative
B. House of Representatives D. Congress
1.. Which branch of the Philippine government
can reject or confirm the appointment of a department
8. How many phases are involved in making laws in the
secretary made by the President?
A. Executive C. Judiciary Philippines?
B. Legislative D. Ombudsman A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4

2. How many years is the term of office of the Senators 9. What role or power did the Congress use when it
of the Philippines? investigated the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines?
A. 3 years C. 6 years
A. Lawmaking C. Legitimation Function
B. 9 years D. 12 years
B. Power of the Purse D. Legislative Oversight
3. Who will provide the system in securing the secrecy
and sanctity of the ballot as well as a system for the 10. Which of the following is a power of the
absentee voting by the qualified Filipinos abroad? Philippine Senate and House of Representative?
A. Congress A. Promulgate rules of court
B. Non Government Organizations B. Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces
C. Office of the President C. Assignment of judges to the lower courts
D. Supreme Court D. Revision of the Constitution

4. Which statement is the goal of the Congress in the

approval of the Enhanced basic Education Act of
2013 otherwise known as K-12 program?
A. To hire more teachers
B. To punish the students
C. To add burden to the parents
D. To make the students ready locally and globally for
college, work and entrepreneurship

5. What is the term of office of a Representative of the

Philippines?
A. 3 years C. 5 years
B. 4 years D. 6 years

6.Which of the following has the exclusive power to

initiate all cases of impeachment?
A. Lower court
B. House of Representatives
C. Senate
D. Supreme Court