Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region VII, Central Visayas
Division of Bohol
PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE
SECOND QUARTER: WEEK 10
Competency : Differentiate the roles and responsibilities of the Philippine Senate and the House
of the Representatives
Reference : https://pia.gov.ph/branches-of-govt#

1987 Phil. Constitution, Philippine Constitution – H. De Leon (2008),

Executive Order No. 292, s. 1987, otherwise known as the

Administrative Code of 1987, https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/
Copyright For classroom use only

LESSON 1: THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

The legislative power shall be vested in the Congress of the Philippines which shall consist of
Senate and House of Representatives. The upper house which is the Senate and the lower house, the
House of the Representatives.

Bicameral Legislation

Advantages:
➢ A second chamber is necessary to serve as check to hasty and ill-considered legislation;
➢ It serves as a training ground for future leaders;
➢ It provides a representation for both regional and national interest;
➢ It serves as check in impeachment process, unlike in a unicameral assembly which has a
dangerous power of action as prosecutor and as a judge;
➢ Bicameral legislation not susceptible to bribery and control of big interests; It is the traditional
form of legislative body dating from ancient times; as such it has been tested and proven in the
crucible of human experience.

Disadvantages:
➢ Although it affords a double consideration of bills, it is no assurance of better considered and
better deliberated legislation;
➢ It produces duplication of efforts;
➢ It often produces deadlocks in the enactment of important measures with the Conference
Committee of both houses, derisively called the “third chamber”, practically arrogating unto itself
the power to enact law under its authority to threshed out differences;
➢ It encourages horse-trading between houses;
➢ It is more expensive to maintain than a unicameral legislature.

STRUCTURE OF THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

SENATE: There are 24 senators who shall be elected at large by the qualified voters of the Philippines,
as may be provided by law. The senate is headed by a Senate President.

Qualifications:
• Natural-born citizen;
• At least 35 years old on the day of election;
• Able to read and write;
• A registered voter; and
• Philippine resident for at least 2 years immediately preceding the day of the election.

Term of Office:
 6 years for every term commencing (unless otherwise provided by law) at noon, 30 June next
following their election.
 Maximum: 2 consecutive terms (six years each term)

 Voluntary renunciation of 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.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

It is headed by a Speaker of the House.

Composition:
o Not more than 250 members, unless otherwise fixed by law; and elected in a congressional district.
o Party-list Representative – 20% of the total number of representatives elected through a party-list
system of registered national, regional and sectoral parties or organizations. Ex. Diwa Party-list, Buhay
Party-list

Qualification:
o Natural born citizen of the Philippines;
o At least 25 years old on the day of the election;
o Able to read and write;
o Registered voter in the district he seeks to represent; and
o A resident of such district for at least one year immediately preceding the day of the election.

TERM of OFFICE
o Each member of the House shall be elected for a term of three (3) years which shall commence (unless
otherwise provided for by law) at noon on 30 June next following their election. No members of house of
the representatives shall serve for more than 3 consecutive terms.

POWERS OF CONGRESS
A. LEGISLATIVE POWER- the power to propose, enact, amend and repeal laws.

- Legislative Process- How a bill becomes a law?

a. Requirement as to bill:
- Only one subject to be expressed in the title thereof
- Appropriation, revenue or tariffs bills, bills authorizing increase of public debt, bills of local
application shall originate exclusively in the House of Representatives.
b. Procedure
1. Filling of the proposed bill in the house of origin.
2. Calendar the bill for the first reading.
3. All bills should pass three readings on separate days.
4. During the first reading- the title of the bill, and the corresponding author/authors.
5. Second reading the house concern, where extensive deliberations and discussions happen.
6. Third and final reading where the numbers of the house concern shall vote either to pass
the bill or not. Their votes are recorded in the journal.
7. If the bill is approve, it is refer to the other house, if disapproved transmit to archive.
8. Referral to the other house following the same procedure. If the bill is approve, it shall be
submitted to the President for his signature, if disapproved transmit to archive.
9. If there are differences between the Senate and the House of Representative as to its
version then it shall be referred to a Bicameral Conference Committee for reconciliation.
10. The bill then submitted to the President of the Philippines for his signature and approval.
11. After one month where the President of the Philippines fail to sign the bill, it shall be
automatically becomes a law.
 12. If the President shall disapproves the bill, he shall return the same, with his objections
thereto contained in his Veto Message, to the house of origin.
13. The Veto is overridden upon a vote of 2/3 of all members of the House of origin and the
other house.

B. POWER OF APPROPRIATION
The spending power, called the power “power of the purse”, belongs to the Congress, subject
only to the veto power of the President. While it is the President who propose the budget, still, the
final say on the matter of appropriation is lodge in Congress.

Appropriation law, defined- A statute the primary and specific purpose of which is to authorize
the release of public funds from the Treasury.

Classification of Appropriation
1. General appropriation law- passed annually, intended to provide for financial operations of
the entire government during one fiscal period.
2. Special appropriation law-designed to for a specific purpose.

Limitations on appropriation measures:

 Appropriation must be devoted to a public purpose.

 The sum authorized to be released must be determinate, or at least determinable.
 If special appropriation it must be supported by funds actually available as certified to by
the National Treasurer, or to be raised by a corresponding revenue proposal included
therein.
 If general appropriations, the Congress may not increase the appropriations
recommended by the President for the operation of the Government as specified in the
budget.

C. POWER OF TAXATION
Limitations:
 Rule of taxation shall be uniform and equitable. Congress shall evolve a progressive
system of taxation.
 Charitable institutions, and all lands, building, and improvements actually, directly
exclusively used for religious, charitable or educational purposes shall be exempt from
taxation.
 All revenues and assets on non-stock, non-profit educational institutions used actually,
directly and exclusively for educational purposes shall be exempt from taxes and duties.

D. POWER OF LEGISLATIVE INVESTIGATION

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.

E. WAR POWER – By a vote of 2/3 of both Houses in joint session assembled, voting separately,
declare the existence of war.

F. POWER TO ACT AS BOARD OF CANVASSERS IN ELECTION OF PRESIDENT

G. POWER TO CALL A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT

IN BOTH VACANCY OCCUR

H. POWER TO JUDGE PRESIDENT’S PHYSICAL FITNESS TO DISCHARGE THE

FUNCTIONS OF THE PRESIDENCY
 I. POWER TO REVOKE OR EXTEND SUSPENSION OF THE PRIVILEGE OF THE
WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS OR DECLARATION OF MARTIAL LAW

J. POWER TO CONCUR PRESIDENTIAL AMNESTIES. Concurrence of majority of all

members of Congress.

K. POWER TO CONCUR IN TREATIES OR INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS.

Concurrence of at least 2/3 of all members of the Senate.

L. POWER TO CONFIRM CERTAIN APPOINTMENTS/ NOMINATIONS MADE BY THE

PRESIDENT.

M. POWER OF IMPEACHMENT

N. POWER RELATIVE TO NATURAL RESOURCES

O. POWER TO PROPOSE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSITUTION

Activity
Fill in the data to determine the difference of the Senate and House of Representative.

CONGRESS

SENATE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVE

Term of office (years): ________ Term of office (years):________

Limitation of term (consecutive Limitation of term (consecutive
term):______________________ term):______________________
Head:______________________ Head:______________________
Age to be elected:____________ Age to be elected:____________
Bill originated:______________ Bill originated:______________
Scope:_____________________ Scope (except for party-list):___
Electorate: _________________ Electorate: _________________

Assessment
Direction: Choose the letter of the best answer.

1. The legislative department is defined in the Philippine Constitution. In what article can be found?
A. Article IV C. Article VI
B. Article V D. Article VII

2. The legislative branch consists of two department. What are these two department?
A. Senate and the Party list C. Senate and the Armed Forces
B. Senate and the House of the Representatives D. Senate and the Cabinet Members

3. The legislative department is composed of two houses. What is the term used to describes the
legislative department which is composed of two houses?
A. Unicameral B. Multicameral C. Bilateral D. Congress

4. A statute the primary and specific purpose of which is to authorize the release of public funds
from the Treasury.
A. Appropriation law B. Administrative law C. Criminal law D. Tax law
 5. A Congressman is a member of the House of the Representative. If someone would like to be
elected as a Congressman, what qualification he/she should possess?
A. Natural born citizen of the Philippines C. A resident of such district for at least one
year
B. Able to read and write D. All of these

6. Lito wanted to be elected as senator of the Philippines this coming 2022 election. Which of the
statement is NOT a consideration for qualification?
A. A registered voter C. Should be able to read and write
B. Should be 25 years old D. Should be a natural-born citizen

7. Congressman Edgar Chatto is the representative of the First Congressional District of Bohol.
How many terms he is allowed to serve according to our constitution?
A. Maximum of 2 consecutive terms C. Maximum of 4 consecutive terms

B. Maximum of 3 consecutive terms D. Maximum of 6 consecutive terms

8. The statements below show the different advantages of bicameral legislation. Which of
the following is NOT considered as an advantage?
A. check to hasty and ill-considered legislation
B. training ground for future leaders
C. ground for bribery and interests
D. check in impeachment process

9. The senate of the Philippines as collegial body can exercise different powers. Which of the
following power the senate can possess?
A. Authorize limited emergency powers for the President
B. Approve the government budget
C. Propose, review, and adopt bills for enactment into law
D. All of these

10. Which of the following is NOT a power of the Philippine Congress?

A. Veto Power C. Power of Legislative Investigation
B. Power of Appropriation D. Legislative Power