15. How a Bill Becomes Law ~House of Representatives~ 1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading Debate Referral to Committee
16. How a Bill Becomes Law Debate Referral to Committee ~House of Representatives~ 1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading ~Senate~ 1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading
17. How a Bill Becomes Law ~House of Representatives~ 1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading ~Senate~ 1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading BICAMERAL COMMITTEE
18. How a Bill Becomes Law ~House of Representatives~ 1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading ~Senate~ 1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading President
19. How a Bill Becomes Law ~House of Representatives~ 1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading 1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading President APPROVE VETO 30 DAY PERIOD
Learning Objectives: 1.) To become familiar with the Philippine Congress as the legislative department of the Philippine government. 2.) To be able to identify the structure, function, powers and constituency of the Philippine Congress as stipulated in Article VI of the 1987 Philippine Constitution 3.) To understand key political concepts related to governance, especially with respect to legislative branches of government
When we say Congress, we refer to both houses of the legislative branch of government in the Philippines. Congressmen in the Upper House are called Senators Congressmen in the Lower House are called Representatives
Article VI, Sections 2-4. Many of these stipulations reaffirm Article II, Section 26. Note on Composition: Election at large = nationwide Age requirement on election day: stipulated so as to avoid ambiguity. It is important to remember that Ninoy Aquino ran into problems when he ran for Senator precisely because of the age requirement. Note on term of office: if a Senator resigns mid-term, it does not entitle him to say that his term was interrupted (i.e. it is still taken against his full term). This means that a Senator on his second term cannot resign before his term ends and claim that he is entitled to run for the same seat again
Article VI, Sections 5-7 Legislative Districts (Art VI, Sec. 3) Based on size and contiguity of territory “ Uniform and progressive ratio” Population of 250,000 = 1 Representative Party List: To incorporate sectoral groups (civil society) Party list reps need not fulfill the residency requirement Party list groups: Labor, peasant, urban poor, youth, indigenous cultural communities, women, etc. No religious groups Youth groups are exempt from the age requirement
Article VI, Section 9 Regular election: Example was May 11, 2001. The seat vacated by Guingona (?) had to be filled. Unexpired term Whoever is elected merely completes the term that was prematurely vacated. In a sense, therefore, this allows such persons to skirt the prohibitions as far as terms of office are concerned.
Article VI, Section 11 These privileges are important to allow Congressmen to fulfill their functions without undue harassment. Note: the basic limitations are: 1.) In the case of immunity from arrest, congressmen are only immune so long as the offense in question is punishable by a prison sentence of six years or less. 2.) Immunity in both cases are guaranteed only while Congress is in session 3.) Immunity applies (especially with respect to the privilege of speech and debate) only when the Congressman is acting de officio
Article VI, Sections 12-13
Article VI, Section 16 Quorum: Minimum number of people for a meeting to be valid and binding. For Congress, majority is the basis, not majority of all members. The difference is that the former is more flexible (i.e. members who are out of the country or momentarily indisposed are not counted for quorum) A smaller number may meet to work out matters on a day-to-day basis
1.) Article VI, Sections 17-19 (esp. 18) 2.) Investigations in aid of legislation: Article VI, Section 21 3.) Declaration of the existence of war and emergency powers: Article VI, Section 23 4.) Treaties: Article VII, Section 21 (The Executive Branch) 5.) Emergency Powers: Article VI, Section 23
6.) Article VI, Sec. 24-5 7.) and 8.) Article VI, Sec. 27 9.) Article VI, Sec. 32 10.) Article XVII, Sections 1-2
1.) Article VI, Sec. 25 2.) Article VI, Sec. 28 (4) 3.) Article VI, Sec. 31 4.) and 5.) Article III, Sec. 22