PHILIPPINE POLITICS ANG GOVERNANCE LESSON 7

1. The Legislative Branch
Prepaired by: Cherrylyn T. Magano, LPT

2. Objectives
At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:
1. Discuss the roles and responsibilities of the Philippine Senate
and the House of Representative;
2. Assess the Performance of the Philippine Congress;
3. Discuss the impact of Congress’s performance on Philippine
development; and
4. Articulate a position or advocacy to an Philippine legislator
through a formal correspondence.

3. A Glimpse Back
Identify which of the following candidates is qualified to run as a president of the
country. Justify your choice using the concepts you have learned from the
previous lesson. Write your answer on the space provided.
1. Jerick Babaril: PhD in Business Administration, 35 years old, with political
experience as a local executive.
2. Oliver Tall: Naturalized Filipino (originally a German), 50years old, Harvard
Graduate
3. Genesis Naliko: registered voter, 41 years old, highschool graduate.
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4. Test your Stock Knowledge
Underline the correct word/phrase for each blank to complete
the paragraph.
The Congress of the Pjilippines is composed of the
(Senate, Department of Justice) and the (Municipality, House
of Representatives). The main function of the Congress is to
(make laws, interpret the existing laws). A (bill, resolution) is a
draft of law presented to a legislature for enactment. A (bill,
resolution), on the other hand, is presented to convey the
sentiments of the Congress.

5. Empower Yourself
 The legislative power of the government is vested upon the Congress of
the Philippines in accordance with the 1987 Constitution.
The congress is divided into two chambers.
 The House of Representative (Lower house)
 The Senate of the Philippines (Upper house)

6. The Senate of the Philippines is composed of 24 senators
elected at large .
The House of Representatives is composed of not more than
250 members, 20% of which is composed of party-list
representatives.

7. A qualified candidate for both the Senate and the
House of Representatives must be:
a natural-born citizen of the Philippines
Able to read and write
Registered voter.

8. The difference is that the Senate requires that the person must
be:
 At least 35 years old; and
Resident of the Philippines for not less than two years before the
election day.
On the other hand, a candidate for the House needs to be:
At least 25 years old and
A resident of the Philippines for at least one year in the district
where he/she will be elected (except for the party-list
representative)

9. The term of the office for the elected senators and
representatives stars at noon of the 30th day of June following
their election.
The senators will serve for six years and shall not serve for more
than two consecutive terms.
The representatives, also known as congressmen/women. Will
serve for three years and shall not hold office for more than
three consecutive terms.
In case of vacancy in the Congress, under Section 9 of Article VI,
special election may be called to fill such vacancy in the manner
prescribed by law , but the senator or member of the House of
Representatives thus elected shall serve only for the unexpected
term.

10. A bill is a draft of law presented to legislation for enactment, by
approval by the Congress and the President of the Republic.
The basic process for the creation or amendment of a law begins
with a bill drafted by senator or representative and filled for the
first reading.
The first reading is where the Senate President or the Speaker of
the House reads out the title, bill number, and author’s name, and
the assigns the bill to the proper Senate or House Committee.

11. The author(s) or the concern committee will send out an
invitation to various concerned parties, agencies, and stake holders
for public hearing of the bill to review the propose bill and give
their comments during the deliberations.
The concerned committee can hold a technical working group
meeting for specific changes to the provision such as power
concepts, correction of grammar, and deletion or addition of
certain phrases or words.
After the approval of the bill by the committee members, a
committee report is then filled with its approved version of the bill
to the Committee on Rules for the second reading.

12. In the second reading, the author of the bill or the chairperson of
the committee delivers a sponsorship speech.
It is followed by a period of inter appellation wherein other
senators or representatives may debate or ask further questions to
the sponsor of the bill .
After the interpellation, the senators or representatives may make
some amendments.

13. In reviewing a bill, there are some things to consider:
1. Does the bill conform to the provisions of the Constitution?
2. What is the main issue that the bill is trying to address?
3. What are the methods that the bill is trying to propose in order
to answer the issue?
4. Are the alternative means to address the issue?
5. Who will benefit from the bill if it is enacted into law? How will
the benefits be given? Will this create further problems?
6. Is there sufficient fund for the law? Where will the government
get the fund needed to enforce the law?

14. The representative or the senator again vote for the passage of the bill on
second reading.
“As a general rule, a bill must pass both the Senate and the House”
(Defensor-Santiago 2002)Note that two version of the bill are processed
simultaneously in both chambers.
The final version of the approved bill by both chambers on the final
version of the bill, a Bicameral Conference Committee is created to make
the necessary changes before printing out the reconciled version of the
bill.
Another period of interpellation follows after which the senators or the
representatives vote for the third reading of the bill.
Upon the last reading of a bill, no amendments shall be allowed.

15. Upon approval of the final version of the bill by both chambers,
the Senate President and the Speaker of the House shall sign the
final copy known as the enrolled bill and send it to the president
for approval and signature.
The bill becomes a law upon the signing of the president. In case
the objection from the president, the enrolled bill is vetoed and
returned to the house where the bill is originated.
If the House of Representatives or the Senate still reconsiders the
bill., at least two-thirds of all members of the House shall vote for
the bill to become a law.
Failure by the president to act on the enrolled bill within 30days
upon his or her receipt, the bill becomes law as if the president
has signed it.

16. Other than bill, each House can make resolutions.
A resolution “conveys principles and sentiments of the
members of the Senate or the House of
Representative”.

17. Three types of Resolution
1. Joint resolution- requires the approval of both chambers of
Congress and the signature of the president, and have the force and
effect of a law if approved.
2. Concurrent resolutions- used for matters affecting the operations
of both chambers of Congress and must be approved in the same
form by both houses, but are not transmitted to the president for
his/her signature and therefore have no force and effect of a law.
3. Simple resolutions- deal with matters entirely within the
prerogative of one chamber of Congress; are not referred to the
president for his/her signature, and therefore have no force and
effect of a law.

18. Analysis Guide
1. What is more beneficial for democratic country, to vote for a
representative or to allow the people to do the process of legislation?
Explain your answer.
2. Do you think laws in our country are not properly enforced? Explain
your answer.
3. With the current set up of Legislation, what do you propose that
members of congress must do to represent or serve their constituents
better?