10/28/22, 11:26 AM 122 - Maj 2 - Politics & Govern.

: 01A Lesson Proper for Week 8

I. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT

         As indicated by the 1987 Constitution, legislative power will be vested in the Congress of the Philippines, which will comprise of
a Senate and a House of Representatives. The Legislative branch is authorized to make laws, alter, and nullify them through the
force vested in the Philippine Congress. The Senate will be made out of 24 Senators who will be elected at large by certified citizens
of the Philippines, as might be provided by law; the House of Representatives will be composed of not more than 250 (except if in
any case fixed by law), 20% of whom should be Party-list representatives.

         Congress is responsible for making empowering laws to ensure the spirit of the constitution is upheld in the country and, on
occasion, correct or change the actual constitution. To make laws, the legislative body comes out with two principal documents: bills
and resolutions. Resolutions convey principles and sentiments of the Senate or the House of Representatives. These goals can
additionally be partitioned into three different elements:

Joint Resolutions — require the approval of both chambers of Congress and the signature of the President and have the force
and effect of a law if approved.
Concurrent Resolutions — used for matters affecting the operations of both chambers of Congress and must be approved in the
same form by both houses but are not transmitted to the President for his signature and therefore have no force and effect of a
law.
Simple Resolutions — deal with matters entirely within the prerogative of one chamber of Congress, are not referred to the
President for his signature, and therefore have no force and effect of a law.

         Bills are laws in the making. They pass into law when they are supported by the two houses and the President of the
Philippines. A bill might be vetoed by the President, however the House of Representatives might topple an official denial by earning
a 2/3rds vote. In the event that the President doesn't follow up on a proposed law put together by Congress, it will pass into law
following 30 days of receipt.

         The Senate of the Philippines is the upper office of the Congress of the Philippines, the nation's legislature. It exists to make
and advance a national viewpoint on national policy to fabricate a prosperous, secure, legitimate and democratic country. In the 100
years of its establishing, it has been the training ground for public authority and has filled in as a definitive stronghold of free
discussion and oversight of the Republic. It has in this manner become a revered democratic institution that reliably maintains the
public interest, secures common, political, and basic freedoms, and advances transparency and accountability in public service.

         The House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral council of the Philippines, the Congress. A lower house is
one of two offices of a bicameral council, the other being the upper house. Notwithstanding its authority position "beneath" the upper
house, in numerous assemblies around the world, the lower house has come to employ more power or in any case apply huge
political impact. The lower house normally is the bigger of the two offices, which means its members are more numerous. Congress
is responsible for making empowering laws to ensure that the spirit of the Constitution is maintained in the nation and, at times, to
amend or change the actual Constitution.

II. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PHILIPPINE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

         The Senate will be composed of 24 Senators who will be elected at large by the qualified voters of the Philippines, as might be
given by law. It is worthy to take note that the Senate is composed of lesser individuals when contrasted with the House of
Representatives. The individuals from this office are chosen at large by the whole electorate. The reasoning for this standard intends
to make the Senate a preparation ground for national leaders and conceivably a springboard for the presidency. It follows likewise
that the Senator, having a national rather than just a regional voting demographic, will have a more extensive standpoint of the
issues of the country, rather than being limited by tight perspectives and interests. With such point of view, the Senate is probably
going to be more vigilant, or at least less indiscreet, than the House of Representatives. Its powers and responsibilities are as
follows:

Make bills, resolutions, concurrent resolutions, and simple resolutions

Debate measures in respective committees and during plenary sessions
Conduct inquiries in aid of legislation
Propose or concur with amendments in the appropriation of funds by the House of Representatives
Try and decide cases of impeachment
Declare the existence of a state of war (two-thirds vote along with the House, voting separately)
Authorize the president to exercise powers to carry out a declared national policy “for a limited period and subject to restrictions”
in times of war or other national emergency
Revoke or extend the president’s proclamation of martial law
Concur with or reject amnesty by the president
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Concur with or reject treaties or international agreements (two-thirds vote)
10/28/22, 11:26 AM 122 - Maj 2 - Politics & Govern.: 01A Lesson Proper for Week 8

Propose amendments to the Constitution through a constituent assembly or constitutional convention

Make full disclosure of financial and business interests, and notify the chamber of possible conflicts of interest when filing
legislation of which they are authors

         Lawmakers in the House of Representatives are called Representatives or Congressman/Congresswoman. They are chosen
for a three-year term by citizens in their individual legislative locale. A Representative can serve for not more than three consecutive
terms. There are 243 legislative districts in the country. You live in one of these areas alongside around 250,000 others! There are
243 representatives elected by district. In addition, there are Representatives chosen through the party-list framework who establish
not in-excess of (20%) of the total number of Representatives. Its powers and responsibilities are as follows:

Create bills, joint resolutions, concurrent resolutions, and simple resolutions

Review the budget proposed by the executive department and create the general appropriations (budget) bill
Tackle impeachment complaints and submit the resolution setting the Articles of Impeachment
Vote to declare the existence of a state of war
Authorize the president to exercise powers to carry out a declared national policy in times of war or other national emergency
Vote to revoke or extend the president’s proclamation of martial law
Through the Commission on Appointments, approve or reject key appointments made by the president to government agencies
Vote on the president’s grant of amnesty
Propose amendments and revisions to the Constitution, vote to convene into a constituent assembly or to call for an election of
members of a constitutional convention

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