LEGISLATIVE

DEPARTMENT
 Legislative branch of the Philippine government The Legislative Branch of the Government of the
Philippines shall consist of Senate and House Representative. Via the authority vested in the Philippine
Congress, these one of the three branches of the government legislative branch, legislative branch is
empowered to make laws, amend, and revoke them. The legislative body comes up with the two main
documents to construct laws and it is the bills and resolutions. Bills are the proposals which may
become laws if it passed on the congress. On the other hand, there are three types of resolutions, the
joint resolutions, the concurrent resolutions, and the simple resolutions. Joint resolutions are almost the
same with bills, for dealing with a particular issue, like emergency spending bill, bill is the one that
commonly used, while for introducing changes to the Constitution, joint resolutions are sometimes used.
Concurrent resolutions do not require the signature of the president or the chief executives and it do not
have the legal force. Lastly, like the concurrent resolution, a simple resolution does not require the
president to sign, and do not have the force of law. It deals entirely with matters within the personal
choice of one house of Congress, such as the adoption or offering condolences to the family of a
deceased Member of Congress. According to the 1987 constitution of the republic of the Philippines –
article VI there should be composed of 24 senators and not more than 250 house of representatives. No
person shall become a part of the Legislative body unless he/she is a natural citizen of the Philippines
and is at least twenty-five years of age on the date of election, and capable of writing and reading.
THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

·Congress: The Legislative Branch of government in the

Philippines
·Purpose, functions and structure of Congress
·Constitutional mandates with respect to Congress

The Legislative Branch

The legislative branch broadly deals with the making,

deliberation over, enactment, amendment and repealing of
laws
 Basic Structures
There are two basic structures for legislative branches of
government:

Unicameral Bicameral
The legislative branch consists of one Legislative power is vested in two
chamber/house chambers/houses
 The Philippine
The Philippine Congress is the country’s legislative
department (Art. VI, Sec. 1)
Congress
• Congress is bicameral
• Upper House: Senate
• Lower House: House of Representatives
 Philippine
Senate Composition
• 24 Senators elected at large
• Natural-born citizen
• At least 35 years old on election day Senate
Senate Qualification
• Literate (can read and write)
• Registered voter
• Philippine resident for 2 years prior to election day
6 years
• Maximum: 2 terms
 House of
Representatives
House of Representatives Composition

• 200 district reps, 50 party list

• Natural-born citizen
• At least 25 years old on election day
of the Philippines
House of Representatives Qualifications
• Literate (can read and write)
• Registered voter of the district
• District resident for 1 year prior to election
day
Term of In Case of
Office Vacancy
• 3 years Maximum: 3 terms • 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
 Salaries Parliamentary
Privileges
• Congress is prohibited from increasing or • Congressmen have two parliamentary privileges
decreasing the salary of its members 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
Elected Congressmen must: Transparency
1.Fully disclose their financial and business interests

2.Disclose potential conflicts of interests that arise in the

course of legislation

3. Keep from any other office or employment (appointed

or otherwise), forfeithis/her seat to do so
Structure • Senate President and House Speaker elected by
majority vote
and • Other officers, procedures and the discipline of its
members is at the discretion of each house

Dynamics • Quorum: Majority Each House maintains a journal

and record of proceedings
• Neither House can adjourn without the other’s
consent while in session
 Powers of Congress Legislative limitations

1.Appointment of Public Officials Congress may not:

2. Legislative inquiry and investigation 1. Increase appropriations recommended by
3.Declare the existence of a state ofwar the executive branch
4. Authorize limited emergency powers for 2.Pass tax exemptions without the
concurrence of a majority of its members
the President
3. Grant titles of nobility
5. Approve the government budget
4.Pass ex post facto bills
6.Undertake projects under the CDF Pass bills of attainder
7. Propose, review, and adopt bills for
enactment into law
8.Overturn a Presidential veto with respect
to proposed legislation
9. Power to tax
10.Allow for referendum
How Bill becomes Law
How Bill becomes Law
Thank you!