Assignment #4

In NOT LESS than less than 700 words, in your opinion, which is a better Legislative
Department for the Philippines, a Unicameral Chamber or a Bicameral Chamber (One House or
Two Houses)? Why? What are the advantages or disadvantages in the Philippine experiences?
Are you in favor of amending the Constitution and changing the structure of government? Why
or why not? Please explain.

A state's legislative body is referred to as the legislature. It is the government's first

organ. It has the authority to make and change laws, as well as oversee the government's
administration. For me I rather to choose Unicameral than Bicameral. The practice of having
only one parliamentary or legislative chamber to perform legislative activities or functions such
as passing a budget, enacting laws, overseeing the administration, and discussing matters of
national or international importance is referred to as a unicameral legislature. This type of
legislature is thought to be the most effective because the legislative process is straightforward
and there are fewer deadlocks or gridlocks. Furthermore, a single chamber government requires
fewer resources and can be managed by fewer representatives, allowing the government to
save both money and time. The unicameral legislature's members are directly elected by the
country's citizens. A unicameral legislature has the advantage of being democratic. People who
make laws for the masses must be elected in a free and fair election, according to democratic
principles. A unicameral chamber is democratic because its members are directly elected by the
people. Furthermore, unlike a two-chamber legislature, a unicameral legislature does not allow
filibusters to carry out their nefarious activities. Because there is no second chamber to
maintain, a unicameral legislature is less expensive to run than a bicameral legislature. Unitary
states are also known to benefit from a unicameral legislature. In a bicameral legislature, rivalry
exists and is unavoidable as the two chambers compete for supremacy. The unicameral
legislature avoids squabbles over which house is the upper and which is the lower. The
unicameral legislature allows for a faster legislative process and can be used in times of
emergency.

Amending the 1987 Constitution is the most important and most contentious change this
country will face under President Duterte. It needs to be done with the utmost care. The
Constitution is reactionary in that it was drafted in response to the Marcos regime's excesses
and at a time when the need to redevelop a national identity trumped the need for balance. As a
result, it became far too detailed when a charter calls for general policy and ideology. Should
the Constitution be changed? Yes, absolutely. I much prefer the formation of a constitutional
convention (Con-con). Like most of us, I do not believe a constitutional assembly (Con-ass) is
completely self-interested. Congressmen's desire for a six-year term is an early indication of
why using a Con-ass to amend the Constitution jeopardizes what is best for the rest of us. Any
amendment to the Constitution must be done with cold reason, dispassion, and detachment
because it is so important, so fundamental to the nation. It does not matter how much it costs or
how long it takes. Doing it correctly must take precedence. A Con-ass (if that still exists, as I
suspect it will) should be required to accept the committee's recommendations unless there is a
compelling reason, backed up by independent surveys (which should be conducted on key
issues such as government form and conducted by reputable polling firms SWS and Pulse Asia)
that show the people want something different. A constitution is created by the people, for the
people, and by the people. This is something that must never be forgotten. It is not created by,
for, or for the benefit of politicians. The first question is whether a Con-assembly should consist
of the two chambers voting separately or unified, with the Senate swamped by the House of
Representatives. Any rational, thinking person understands that it is intended to be separate.
The Constitutional Commission of 1986 intended it, but sloppy editing missed the last-minute
switch to a two-chamber Congress. Voting as a single body clogs up the Senate and renders it
ineffective. The Senate is not considered irrelevant by the Constitution. A new constitution must
also take the future into account. Some of the 1987 Constitution's flaws include the fact that the
world has changed, and the terms established at the time are no longer applicable. A good
example is the prohibition on foreign investment. A constitution should establish a people's
general—and I emphasize general—policies, philosophy, and ideology. Specifics should be
established by law, which can be modified as circumstances change. A nation's constitution is
its lifeblood. A constitution is not changed to suit a particular moment; it is changed to establish
the foundation of a society—for a hundred years.

In NOT LESS than less than 700 words, are you in favor of the Party-List Representation in the
Philippines? Should it be continued or removed or amended? Why? Please explain.

In the Philippines, the party-list system began as a political innovation in the 1987
Constitution, allowing for more diversity in the national legislature. The Constitution is a political
by-product of the 1986 People Power uprising, which saw long-time dictator Ferdinand Marcos
deposed by a popular and nonviolent uprising. The pro-democracy Constitution allows for party-
list representation in the House of Representatives, in addition to the traditional system of
district representation, which has long been regarded as the country's bastion of traditional
elitist politics. Is the party-list system an effective means of preventing the return of authoritarian
rule in the Philippines? To what extent has the party-list system been able to stave off the
resurgence of traditional elitist politics by fostering a more democratic political institution, and is
it an effective means of preventing the return of authoritarian rule in the Philippines? Party-list
representation is a serious matter. Party-list organizations are a formidable force when
combined. The Constitution requires that one-fifth of the members of the House of
Representatives come from such party-list organizations (around 250 of which are district
representatives).

For me, I think that Party-List Representation in the Philippines should be amended by a
little change. Like limit the party list representatives in 20-30 instead of 58 because not all-party
lists do their job as a proportional representation system to favor single-issue parties and
applies that tendency to allow underrepresented sectors to represent themselves in the law-
making process. Many parties list did not care to other Filipino citizens after the election, and
they got seated. They just like other corrupt officials that there has so many promises when they
are campaigning but there has a dark intention when they got elected. We should limit the party
list so that we can choose the deserving parties that can help our country. If we just let this
system, it will repeat again the things that happening today, and it will continuously be repeating
until it gets even worse. So that we should think carefully in choosing the right candidates
because all our future is in their hands. For me, the one that we should vote in party list
representative is the ACT-CIS Party list because the ACT-CIS Party list is an Anti-Crime and
Terrorism Community Involvement and Support Party list. The ACT-CIS part list can help us
when we are oppressed by someone or there is a crime involve. Before we vote a party list,
there are several things to know about that. You are voting for a party or organization, not a
person. A party or organization, upon applying for accreditation with the Comelec, also
submitted a list of up to 5 nominees. If the party or group wins, the first nominee becomes the
congressman. If the group wins another seat, the second nominee becomes congressman too.
You are voting for only one party or organization. Although there are 58 seats available for the
party list (the Constitution mandates that 20% of the total number of seats in the House of
Representatives will be for the party list), you are not voting for as many groups. Of the 136
parties and organizations vying, you can only vote for one. If you shade the oval across more
than one group, the counting machine will void the party list portion of your ballot. Remember
your choice group’s number on the ballot. This is the first time that parties and organizations in
the party list are not listed alphabetically on the ballot. They are arranged randomly. The
Comelec under chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr introduced this rule to remove the advantage that
groups with names starting with “A” or “1” used to enjoy. While you will not be voting for
persons, you have a way of checking who are the nominees of the different groups. A party-list
nominee must be a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, a registered voter, residing in the
country at least a year before election day, literate, a bona fide member of the party nominating
him or her at least 90 days before the elections, and at least 25 years old on election day. Your
party-list representative is not a second-class congressman. The nominee of a winning party-list
organization will have the same responsibilities, powers, and benefits as the congressmen
elected from the districts. They can sponsor bills, head committees, call investigations in aid of
legislation, receive equal amounts of pork barrel, and, yes, drive around with an “8” for their car
plate.