The Judicial Branch Composition SUPREME COURT composed of 15 members (1 chief justice, 14 associate justice) Judicial power is vested

d in a Supreme Court and in such lower courts as may be established by law. The 1981 Judicial Reorganization Act provides for four main levels of courts and several special courts. At the local level are metropolitan trial courts, municipal trial courts, and municipal circuit trial courts. The next level consists of regional trial courts, one for each of the nation's thirteen political regions, including Manila. Courts at the local level have original jurisdiction over less serious criminal cases while more serious offenses are heard by the regional level courts, which also have appellate jurisdiction. At the national level is the Intermediate Appellate Court, also called the court of appeals. Special courts include Muslim circuit and district courts in Moro (Muslim Filipino) areas, the court of tax appeals, and the Sandiganbayan. The Sandiganbayan tries government officers and employees charged with violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Qualifications The Supreme Court is the highest tribunal in the Philippines. It consists of the Chief Justice and 14 Associate Justices, appointed by the following are the qualifications to become a member of the Supreme Court: 1. Natural-born citizen of the Philippines; 2. at least 40 years of age; 3. a judge in a court of record for at least 15 years or engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines for the same period; and 4. a person of proven competence, integrity, probity and independence. They hold office during good behavior until they reach the age of 70 years or become incapacitated to discharge the duties of their office. They can be removed only by impeachment. Grounds for impeachment include conviction of culpable violation of the Philippine Constitution, treason, bribery, other high crimes, or graft and corruption. Term NO TERM LIMIT but they mandated to hold office during good behavior until they reach the age of 70 or become incapacitated to discharge the duties of their office. Function According to the 1987 Constitution, Art. VIII, sec. 5, The Supreme Court exercises the following powers:

1. Exercise jurisdiction over cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and over petitions for certiorari, prohibition, mandamus, quo warranto, and habeas corpus. 2. Review, revise, reverse, modify, or affirm, on appeal or certiorari, as the law or the Rules of Court may provide, final judgments and orders of the lower courts in: o All cases in which the constitutionality or validity of any treaty, international or executive agreement, law, presidential decree, proclamation, order, instruction, ordinance, or regulation is in question; o All cases involving the legality of any tax, impost, assessment, or toll, or any penalty imposed in relation thereto; o All cases in which the jurisdiction of any lower court is in issue; o All criminal cases in which the penalty imposed is reclusion perpetua or higher; o All cases in which only an error or question of law is involved; 3. Assign temporarily judges of lower courts to other stations as public interest may require. Such temporary assignments shall not exceed six months without the consent of the judge concerned. 4. Order a change of venue or place of trial to avoid a miscarriage of justice. 5. Promulgate rules concerning the protection and enforcement of constitutional rights, pleading, practice, and procedure in all courts; the admission to the practice of law, the Integrated Bar; and legal assistance to the underprivileged. Such rules shall provide a simplified and inexpensive procedure for the speedy disposition of cases, shall be uniform for all courts the same grade, and shall not diminish, increase or modify substantive rights. Rules of procedure of special courts and quasi-judicial bodies shall remain effective unless disapproved by the Supreme Court. 6. Appoint all officials and employees of the Judiciary in accordance with the Civil Service Law (Sec. 5 , id.). http://www.gov.ph/about/gov/judiciary/ http://www.ph.net/htdocs/government/phil/judiciary/ http://countrystudies.us/philippines/80.htm http://www.slideshare.net/KeytBLUE20/branches-of-the-philippine-government

Executive Branch
Composition: The President The Vice President The Cabinet Local Government Qualifications: President: The qualifications for an individual to aspire for the Presidency of the Philippines are outlined in Article VII, Section 2 of the Constitution. According to the Constitution, an individual may become President provided he meets the following criteria: 1. Natural born Filipino 2. A registered voter 3. Must be able to read and write 4. 40 years of age at the day of the election 5. Must have resided in the Philippines ten years before the election is held Vice President: Same for the qualifications of the president The Cabinet: According to the Article 7, Section 16, the President may appoint anyone to executive departments with the consent of the Commission on Appointments. Names of individuals nominated to cabinet posts are submitted to the Commission on Appointments for their consideration. An individual may not assume his post in a given department unless confirmed by the Commission on Appointments. However, the Constitution provides for individual becoming Cabinet Secretaries in an Acting Capacity before they are confirmed. According to Article VII, Section 16 of the Constitution, the President may appoint anyone to cabinet posts even if Congress is in recess. These appointments are valid until the Commission on Appointments disapproves them or at the end of the next session of Congress.

The Local Government: An elective local official must be a citizen of the Philippines, a qualified voter; resident of the district, municipality, city or province where he proposes to be elected, as the case may be, for at least six (6) months at the time of the filing of his certificate of candidacy; must be at least twenty one (21) years of age on election day; and must be able to read and write.

Functions: President Article VII, Section 1, of the 1987 Constitution vests executive power to the President of the Philippines, who functions as the Head of State, Head of Government, and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. As Chief Executive, the President of the Philippines exercises control over all the executive departments, bureaus, and offices. Vice President

According to the Constitution, the Vice President may concurrently assume a cabinet position should the President of the Philippines offer him one. The Vice President will become a Secretary concurrent to his position of Vice President. Aside from the Cabinet post, the Vice President is mandated to assume the Presidency in case of the death, disability, or resignation of the incumbent President. The Cabinet A Cabinet Secretary is the alter ego of the President in their respective Departments. Thus, they posses the power to issue directives relative to their departments, such as department orders. These orders only apply to offices under a specific department under the Cabinet Secretarys jurisdiction. Cabinet Secretaries also act as advisors to the President of the Philippines for their areas. The Local Government Local governments constitute the foundation of the entire structure of the government. The acts of the local government units affect the ordinary citizen more directly than those of the national government. The average citizen has more and closer contacts with the local governments and their agencies than with the national or provincial government, and is more concerned with the local affairs than with those of the national or provincial in scope. Terms President

The President of the Philippines is elected by direct vote of the people and has a term of six (6) years with no provision for reelection. Vice President

The Vice President of the Philippines is elected by direct vote by the people for a term of six years and may run for reelection once. The Cabinet The president appoints and may fire her cabinet members whom she officiates over.

The Local Government The Offices of the above mentioned local Chief Executives are limited to three consecutive three-year terms. Once they end their third term, they may not run for reelection but may run again once they let one term pass

http://www.ph.net/htdocs/government/phil/loc-gov/ http://www.chanrobles.com/bataspambansabilang52.htm#.UyBHyT-Sy8c http://www.gov.ph/about/gov/exec/#cabinet http://www.philippinecountry.com/government_officials/