OVERVIEW OF THE

PHILIPPINE
LEGISLATIVE
SYSTEM
HISTORY OF THE
PHILIPPINE
LEGISLATION
REPORTER:
ROMMEL S. GANADEN
THE PRE- SPANISH PERIOD

BARANGAY

DATU

UMALOHOKAN

NEXT
BARANGAY
 BALANGAY, a Malayan
word means “boat”

 A unit of government and

a settlement with more
or less 100 families

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DATU
 Head/ Chief of the
Barangay, legislative
leader
 Assisted by council of
elders to pass a law

BACK
UMALOHOKAN
 A public announcer,
carries a bell and
announces in public
gatherings the provisions
of the law.
 Law shall take effect
after announcement.

BACK
THE SPANISH PERIOD
(1521- 1898)

GOVERNOR- GENERAL

ROYAL AUDIENCIA

CROWN OF SPAIN
NEXT
GOVERNOR-
GENERAL
Serves as Chief
Legislator, could
promulgate executive
decrees, edicts or
ordinances with the
force of the law

BACK
ROYAL
AUDIENCIA
Spanish Supreme Court,
passed laws in the form
of autos accordados,
Governor General stood
as president of this body

BACK
CROWN OF
SPAIN
acting through its
council

BACK
 THE
PERIOD
OF
PHILIPPINE
REVOLUTION
Malolos Congress (1898-1899)
Also known as the Assembly of Representatives, law making body
of the First Republic, Unicameral

States that the people have exclusive sovereignty, civil rights &
separated the Church from the state. It also calls for a Presidential
form of government with the President elected for a term of four
years by a majority of the Assembly.

Malolos Congress held its regular session from September 15, 1898
to November 13, 1899.
 THE
AMERICAN
PERIOD
Philippine Commission (1900-1907)
 a colonial legislative system composed of all American appointees.

1. Schurman Commission
 Established by US Pres. William Mc Kinley on January 30, 1899
 First Philippine Commission (legislature of the Phil. Islands) headed by
Dr. Jacob Schurman
 Acknowledged Filipino aspirations for independence, however the
country is not ready for it
-proposed for the establishment of civilian government, bicameral
legislature, autonomous provincial and municipal governments, and
free public elementary schools
 AMERICAN CHIEF EXECUTIVE- Military Governor
 2. Taft Commission (1900-1902)
 Established by US Pres. William McKinley on March 16, 1900
 Second Philippine Commission also known as the legislature
of the Philippine Islands headed by William Howard Taft
(issued 499 laws)
 Granted legislative as well as limited executive powers

Philippine Organic Act of July 1902 led the establishment of:

• Lower House (Philippine Assembly) -elected
• Upper House (Philippine Commission)-appointed
The Philippine Assembly (1907-1916)
 Convened at the old Manila Grand Opera House on October 16,
1907 headed by Sergio Osmena of Nacionalista Party
 Conflict between Philippine Assembly (Filipinos) and Philippine
Commission (Americans)
 Jones Law changed the legislative set-up
- Senate
- House of Representatives
Philippine Legislature (1916-1935)
 From 1916-1935, Philippine Commission evolved into Philippine
Legislature
 Lasted until November 1935 when the semi-independent
government was inaugurated
 The laws enacted during these two assemblies are known as
Acts
National Assembly (1935-1946)
 First National Assembly- meeting of the legislature of the Commonwealth
of the Philippines (November 25, 1935 – August 15, 1938)
 Second National Assembly- meeting of the legislature of the
Commonwealth of the Philippines (January 24, 1939- December 16, 1941)
 The laws enacted during these two assemblies are known as
Commonwealth Acts
 In 1942-1944, the Japanese occupied the Philippines and a unicameral
National Assembly replaced the bicameral body after the ratification of
the 1935 Constitution
 The Second Philippine Republic’s National Assembly was created under
the 1943 Constitution
 Gen. Douglas McArthur issued a proclamation on October 23, 1944
invalidating all laws passed during the Japanese occupation
 THE
COMMONWEALTH
PERIOD
The Commonwealth Period
(1945-1946)
Two (2) Commonwealth Congress of the Philippines:

1. The Third National Assembly of the Philippines

- meeting of the bicameral legislature (Senate & House of
Representatives) from July 9 – December 20, 1945
2. First Congress of the Philippines
- convened before the proclamation of independence on July 4,
1946 and during the Philippine Independence
Laws passed during this period were also known as Commonwealth
Acts.
 THE
PERIOD
AFTER
INDEPENDENCE
 Congress of the Philippines
(1946-1972)
 US Government granted Philippine Independence on July 4,
1946
 Congress of the Philippines was established and functioned as
the National Legislature until September 1972
 Laws enacted during this period were called Republic Acts
 There were seven (7) Congresses from 1946-1972, however the
7th Congress of the Philippines was dissolved by the late
President Marcos upon the declaration of martial law.
 THE
MARTIAL LAW
PERIOD
The Martial Law Period (1972-1978)
 Pres. Ferdinand Marcos exercised full legislative and executive
powers
 Law enacted during this period were called Presidential Decrees
 In 1976, Batasang Bayan (1976-1978) served as advisory body to
the President who had the legislative power until 1978
 First Batasang Pambansa (Interim National Assembly) – the
UNICAMERAL legislature of the Philippines from June 12, 1978 to
June 5, 1984, as mandated by the 1973 Constitution
- passed a total of 702 laws: Batas Pambansa Blg. 001 to 702
 Second Batasang Pambansa from July 23, 1984 to March 25,
1986. It passed 181 laws: Batasang Pambansa Blg. 703 - 884
 AQUINO’S
REVOLUTIONARY
GOVERNMENT
Provisional Republic (1986-1987)
After the peaceful EDSA Revolution:
 Corazon Aquino was declared the President and the
Batasang Pambansa was dissolved
 Pres. Aquino exercised legislative powers, and the Executive
Orders and Presidential Proclamation issued during this
period has the effect of statutes
 Interregnum period is from February 26, 1986(the day
Corazon Aquino took her oath as President) to March 24,
1986 (immediately before the adaptation of 1987
Constitution)
 PERIOD UNDER
THE
1987 CONSTITUTION
Congress of the Philippines
(1987 to Present)
Period under the 1987 Constitution
- Restored the presidential system of government together with the
BICAMERAL Congress
- Section 1, Art VI, 1987 Constitution provides that the legislative power
shall be vested in the Congress of the Philippines which shall consist of
the House of the Representatives and Senate, except to the extent
reserved to the people by the provision on initiative and referendum.
- Today, Senate is composed of 24 members with 6-year term while House
of Representatives is composed of a maximum of 250 congressional
representatives.
 REFERENCES:
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Philippine_legislative_periods
 Legal Research by Rufus B. Rodriguez
 Legal Research and Bibliography (2007) by P. Ng, et.al