Lecture on the Legislative

Department of the Republic

of the Philippines
Justin Martin O. Hernandez
 Basic Structures
There are two basic structures for legislative
branches of government:
1. Unicameral
 The legislative branch consists of
one chamber/house

2. Bicameral
 Legislative power is vested in two
chambers/houses
The Philippine Congress
The Philippine Congress is the country’s
legislative department (Art. VI, Sec. 1)

 Congress is bicameral
Upper House: Senate
Lower House: House of
Representatives

 N.B.: Senators are Congressmen

 The Legislative Branch
From the Latin lex, legis meaning
law
The legislative branch broadly
deals with the making,
deliberation over, enactment,
amendment and repealing of laws
 Senate
Composition 24 Senators elected at large
Natural-born citizen
At least 35 years old on
Qualifications election day
Literate (can read and write)
Registered voter
Philippine resident for 2
years prior to election day
Term of Office 6 years
Maximum: 2 terms
 May 2, 1987 – first elected 24 senators
- served 5 years and end on June
30, 1992 – 12 noon
May 1992 – first 12 with highest number of
votes – full term (6years) expiring in 1998
Last 12 served for 3 years ended in 1995
Be not completely dissolve
 House of Representatives
Composition 200 district reps, 50 party list
Natural-born citizen
At least 25 years old on
election day
Qualifications Literate (can read and write)
Registered voter of the district
District resident for 1 year prior
to election day
Term of Office 3 years
Maximum: 3 terms
 House of Representative
Section 5. (1) The House of Representatives
shall be composed of not more than two
hundred and fifty members, unless otherwise
fixed by law, who shall be elected from
legislative districts apportioned among the
provinces, cities, and the Metropolitan Manila
area in accordance with the number of their
respective inhabitants, and on the basis of a
uniform and progressive ratio, and those who, as
provided by law, shall be elected through a party-
list system of registered national, regional, and
sectoral parties or organizations
 House of Representative
Section 11. Number of Party-List
Representatives. - The party-list representatives
shall constitute twenty percentum (20%) of the
total number of the members of the House of
Representatives including those under the party-
list. For purposes of the May 1998 elections, the
first five (5) major political parties on the basis of
party representation in the House of
Representatives at the start of the Tenth
Congress of the Philippines shall not be entitled
to participate in the party-list system.
 House of Representative
The parties, organizations, and coalitions shall be
ranked from the highest to the lowest based on the
number of votes garnered during the elections. The
parties, organizations, and coalitions receiving at
least two percent (2%) of the total votes cast for the
party-list system shall be entitled to one seat each:
provided, that those garnering more than two
percent (2%) of the votes shall be entitled to
additional seats in proportion to their total number of
votes: provided, finally, that each party, organization,
or coalition shall be entitled to not more than three
(3) seats.
 House of Representative

.80 = (80%) Number of district Representatives

.20 = (20%) Number of Party-list Representative
 House of Representative
18th Congress of the Philippines
• Seats – 304 representatives
243 from congressional districts
61 party-list representatives
 In Case of Vacancy…
Vacancy can be filled through
regular election
Special elections can be called for
the purpose of filling the vacancy
In either circumstance, the one
elected merely sits for the
unexpired term
 Structure and Dynamics
Senate President and House Speaker elected
by majority vote
Other officers, procedures and the discipline of
its members is at the discretion of each house
Quorum: Majority
Each House maintains a journal and record of
proceedings
Neither House can adjourn without the other’s
consent while in session
 Officers of the Senate
President
President Pro-tempore
Majority Floor Leader
Minority Floor Leader
Secretary
Sgt. –at-Arms
 Officers of The House of
Representatives
Speaker
Deputy Speakers
Majority Floor Leader
Minority Floor Leader
PARLIAMENTARY IMMUNITIES
 Parliamentary Privileges
Congressmen have two parliamentary
privileges while Congress is in session:
1. Privilege from arrest
 Immunity from offenses punishable by not
more than six years imprisonment

2. Privilege of speech and debate

 Immunity from libel and slander
 Its Sessions
Regular Session
-scheduled for a special period of time each
year
Special Session - called by the
president at any time
Joint Session - it refers to when
both houses of a bicameral
legislature sit together.
How a Bill Becomes
Law

Referral to Committee
Debate

1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading

~House of Representatives~
How a Bill Becomes Law
Referral to
Debate
Committee

1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading

~Senate~

1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading

~House of Representatives~
How a Bill Becomes
Law

1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading

~Senate~

BICAMERAL
COMMITTEE

1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading

~House of Representatives~
How a Bill Becomes Law
President

1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading

~Senate~

1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading

~House of Representatives~
How a Bill Becomes Law
APPROVE President VETO
30 DAY PERIOD

1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading

1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading

~House of Representatives~
 Sources:
http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/compo
sition.asp#A._The_Officers_of_the_Senat
e_
http://www.congress.gov.ph/about/?about=
officials