Article VI: Legislative Department

Legislative power- the power to make, alter, and repeal laws.

Laws being describe is the Statutory Laws

Functions of Law
1. Defines the right and duties of the citizens
2. Imposes taxes
3. Appropriate funds
4. Defines crimes and provides their punishment
5. Creates and abolishes Government Offices

Legislative branches
1. House of Senate- composes of senators
2. House of Representative- composes of different congressman

The Legislative body in the Philippines is in Bicameralism form.

Powers of the Congress

1. General Legislative Power- enact laws
2. Specific Powers
a. Choose who will be the President in case of the temporary disabilities/death of the
incumbent President.
b. Confirms appointments made by the President through the Congress Commission on
Appointments.
c. Promotes social Justice
d. Imposes Taxes
e. Impeach a high position government Official
f. Act as constituent Assembly in case of any changes being made in the constitution
3. Implied Power- power needed to enact a law
4. Inherent Power
a. Eminent Domain- acquiring any private property to be used for the use of the Public.
b. Power of Taxation- creating laws regarding taxation
c. Police Power- enacting law through the help of the Police Force

Principle of Checks and Balances Implied on Legislative

1. Legislative is being check by the Executive Branch through checking the Laws made by
the Congress. Any bill without the signature of the President is void. The President can
disapprove the bill being submitted.
2. Presidents veto (disapproval of a bill) can be removed by a voting of the House of
Representative. There must be at least 2/3 vote of the total Representative must be gathered to
override the veto.
3. Laws created by the Congress also is being confirmed by the Judiciary by check it if it
does not violate the constitution.

The House of Senate

- There are 24 senators. They have a 6 years term. The senate is being alternately being
elected, meaning every election only 12 senator sits are vacant while the remaining 12 is still in
the position.
Qualification of a Senator
a. Natural Born Citizen of the Philippines
b. At least 35 Years of Age
c. Able to read and write
d. Must be A registered voter.
- Two consecutive term is not allowed

House of Representative
- There are 250 Representatives/congressmen.
- Composes of Different provincial representative and different party list.
- They have 3 years term.

Qualification of a Congressman
a. Natural Born Citizen of the Philippines
b. At least 25 years of Age
c. Able to read and write
- 3 consecutive term is not allowed

Party List
- It is the 20% of the number of congressmen.
- Representative of different sectors such as the teens, woman, athletes.

Kind of Election for the Members of the Congress

1. Regular Election
2. Special Election- happens only if there is vacancy is the congress.

Stages of Legislative Enactment/ Passage of a Bill

1. First Reading- the bill is only being read by its title and number together with the name/s f
the author/s.
2. Referral to the appropriate committee- it will be referred to the appropriate committee for
study and consideration. Revision may be made depending on the public hearing results to be
conducted by the certain committee.
3. Second Reading- the bill is being read in its entirely together with the amendments
proposed by the committee.
4. Debates- authors are given time to deliver his speech to convince his colleagues and to
make his co-legislators be in favor of the authors bill which is needed in the voting of the
approval of the bill.
5. Printing and Distribution- after all the proposed amendments has been presented during
the debate, the bill shall be in its final forms and copies of its would be distributed among the
members of the House where it originated three days before its passage
6. Third Reading- the voting of the approval of the bill.
7. Referral to the other house- after the approval from the other house, it must be submitted
to the other house. The bill will undergo Step 1-6.
8. Submission to a Joint Bicameral Committee- if in case the decision of the Houses
contradict, the respective committees in both housed shall have a joint bicameral meeting to
compromise their stance in order to have consensual positions.
9. Submission to the President

ARTICLE VI
Legislative Department
SECTION 1. The legislative power shall be vested in the Congress of the Philippines which shall
consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives, except to the extent reserved to the
people by the provision on initiative and referendum.
LEGISLATIVE POWER- essentially the authority under the Constitution to make laws and
subsequently, when the need arises, to alter and repeal them.
PECULIAR TASK OF THE LEGISLATURE:
To prescribe general rules for the government of society.
LAWS- statues which are the written enactments of the legislature governing the relations of the
people among themselves or between them and the government and its agencies.
Laws being describe is the Statutory Laws
FUNCTION OF LAWS
Legislature
defines the rights and duties of citizens
imposes taxes, appropriates funds
defines crimes and provides for their punishment
creates and abolishes government offices, determines their jurisdiction and functions
and in general, regulates human conduct and the use of property for the promotion of the
common good.
LEGISLATIVE POWER VESTED IN CONGRESS
Congress of the Philippines- double-chamber body and bicameral structure consisting of:
Senate/House of Senate- composes of Senators
Senate President
Aquilino Koko Pimentel
Below are the current Senators of the Philippines.
The following senators are elected on May 2013 and will serve until June 30, 2019.
Sen. Juan Edgardo "Sonny" M. Angara
Sen. Paolo Benigno "Bam" A. Aquino IV
Sen. Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay
Sen. Allan Peter S. Cayetano
Sen. Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito
Sen. Francis "Chiz" G. Escudero
Sen. Gregorio "Gringo" B. Honasan II
Sen. Loren B. Legarda
Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III
Sen. Grace L. Poe
Sen. Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV
Sen. Cynthia A. Villar
The following senators are elected on May 2016 and will serve until June 30, 2022.
Sen. Leila M. de Lima
Sen. Franklin "Frank" M. Drilon
Sen. Sherwin "Win" T. Gatchalian
Sen. Richard "Dick" J. Gordon
Sen. Ana Theresia "Risa" N. Hontiveros
Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson
Sen. Emmanuel "Manny" D. Pacquiao
Sen. Francis Pancratius "Kiko" N. Pangilinan
Sen. Ralph G. Recto
Sen. Vicente "Tito" C. Sotto III
Sen. Emmanuel Joel Villanueva
Sen. Juan Miguel "Migz" F. Zubiri

House of Representatives- composes of different Congressman

Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Pantaleon D. Alvarez

The Legislative body in the Philippines is in Bicameralism form.

ADVANTAGES OF BICAMERALISM
1. Second Chamber Senate is necessary to serves as a check to hasty and ill-considered
legislation;
2. Serves as training ground for future leaders;
3. Provides representation for both regional and national interests;
4. Bicameral legislature is less susceptible to bribery and control of big interests;
5. Traditional form of legislative body dating from ancient times; as such it has been tested
and proven in the crucible of human experience.

DISADVANTAGES OF BICAMERALISM
1. Bicameral set-up has not worked out as an effective fiscalizing machinery;
2. Although it affords a double consideration of bills, it is no assurance of better consider
and better deliberated legislation;
3. It produces duplication of efforts and serious deadlocks in the enactment of important
measures with the Conference Committee of both Houses, derisively called the third
chamber practically arrogating unto itself the power to enact law under its authority to
thresh out differences;
4. All things being equal, it is more expensive to maintain than a unicameral legislature;
and
5. The prohibitive costs of senatorial elections have made if possible for only wealthy
individuals to make it to the Senate; and as to the claim that a Senate is needed to
 provide a training ground for future leaders, two of our Presidents became chief
executives even if their service was confined to the House of Representatives.

SCOPE OF LEGISLATIVE POWER OF CONGRESS