Philippine Politics and Governance: Midterm Review 2023

Legislative Department

Branch responsible for making laws.

Philippine Congress

Country's legislative department, bicameral in structure.

Bicameral Congress

Legislative body with two chambers: Senate and House.

Senate

Upper house of Congress, composed of 24 Senators.

House of Representatives

Lower house, with up to 250 members.

Natural-born Citizen

A citizen by birth, not by naturalization.

Senator Qualifications

Must be 35, literate, registered voter, resident.

Senator Term

Senators serve a six-year term, starting June 30.

Legislative Power

Authority to enact, modify, or repeal laws.

Advantages of Bicameralism

Checks parochial tendencies, enables careful legislation.

Unicameralism

Single legislative chamber, promotes efficiency and clarity.

Party-List Representatives

Elected from various sectors, excluding religious groups.

Election Date

Regular elections held on second Monday of May.

Congressman

Member of the House of Representatives.

Term Limits for Senators

No more than two consecutive terms allowed.

Legislative Districts

Geographic areas electing representatives to Congress.

Sectoral Representation

Includes labor, youth, women, and indigenous communities.

Congressional Elections

Conducted to fill seats in both chambers.

Initiative and Referendum

Processes allowing citizens to propose or reject laws.

Registered Voter

Individual eligible to vote in elections.

Residency Requirement

Must reside in the Philippines for two years prior.

Senatorial Elections

Senators elected at large by qualified voters.

Legislative Session

Period when Congress meets to conduct business.

House of Representatives

Legislative body with up to 250 members.

District Representatives

Elected directly from territorial units.

Party-list Representatives

Elected indirectly to represent marginalized sectors.

Term of Office

Members serve a three-year term starting June 30.

Regular Election

Held on the second Monday of May.

Special Election

Called to fill vacancies in Congress.

Qualifications for HOR Members

Natural-born citizen, 25 years old, literate.

Registered Voter

Must be registered in the election district.

Residency Requirement

Must reside in the district for one year.

Congressional Salary Determination

Salaries set by law, changes effective after terms.

Privileged from Arrest

Protection for offenses under six years imprisonment.

Freedom of Speech in Congress

Protected remarks during official duties.

Reason for Congressional Privileges

To ensure members can perform duties without fear.

Party-list Representation

20% of total representatives for marginalized sectors.

Election Date

Term begins at noon on June 30.

Vacancy Filling

Special elections fill vacancies for unexpired terms.

Congressional Session

Period when Congress members are protected from arrest.

Imprisonment Duration

Privileges apply to offenses with max six years.

Congressional Debate Protection

Members cannot be questioned for speeches in Congress.

Elective Local Officials

Local representatives elected under Article X.

Natural-born Citizen

A citizen by birth, not naturalization.

Literate Requirement

Ability to read and write is mandatory.

Marginalized Sectors

Includes labor, youth, women, and indigenous communities.

Financial Disclosure

Members must disclose financial interests upon taking office.

Conflict of Interest

Notification required for potential conflicts in legislation.

Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN)

Document detailing a member's financial status.

Income Tax Return

Declaration of income during business interest term.

Incompatible Office

Position not allowed alongside congressional responsibilities.

Prohibited Financial Interests

No financial stake in government contracts or privileges.

Regular Session

Congress convenes annually on fourth Monday of July.

Special Session

President can call Congress to meet anytime.

Quorum

Majority needed to conduct business in each House.

Legislative Journal

Official record of legislative actions and proceedings.

Electoral Tribunal

Judges election contests and qualifications of members.

Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET)

Composed of Justices and Senate members for elections.

Chairman of Electoral Tribunal

Senior Justice leads the Electoral Tribunal.

Majority Vote

Required for electing House Speaker and Senate President.

Disorderly Behavior

Members can be punished for misconduct in proceedings.

Suspension Penalty

Maximum suspension duration is sixty days.

Proportional Representation

Selection based on party representation in Electoral Tribunal.

Government Employment Prohibition

Members cannot hold other government positions during term.

Forbidden Office

Office not allowed if created during member's term.

Emoluments Increase Prohibition

Members cannot be appointed to offices with increased pay.

Legislative Responsibilities

Members must focus on their duties in Congress.

House of Representatives Speaker

Elected leader of the House by majority vote.

Senate President

Elected leader of the Senate by majority vote.

Congress Member Appointment

Members cannot be appointed to other offices.

Senators' Conflict of Interest

Senators cannot appear as counsel in courts.

SET Chairperson

Always a Justice of the Supreme Court.

Commission on Appointments

Consists of Senators and House Representatives.

Ex Officio Chairman

President of the Senate serves as chairman.

Chairman's Voting Power

Chairman votes only in case of a tie.

Appointment Review Period

Commission acts within thirty session days.

Majority Vote Requirement

Appointments require majority vote from members.

Legislative Check

Commission checks President's appointing authority.

Consent Requirement

Commission must consent to key official appointments.

Approval Power

Commission can approve or disapprove appointments.

Electoral Tribunal Formation

Constituted within thirty days after organization.

Session Meeting Requirement

Commission meets only while Congress is in session.

Public Access to Records

Congress records open to public as per law.

Audit by Commission on Audit

Books audited and published annually.

Inquiries in Aid of Legislation

Committees may conduct inquiries respecting rights.

Department Heads' Appearance

Heads can appear with President's consent.

Written Questions Submission

Questions must be submitted three days prior.

Executive Session Requirement

Conducted when public interest demands it.

Witness Summoning Rule

Anyone can be summoned except President and Justices.

Oversight Function of Congress

Enables Congress to monitor law implementation.

State of War Declaration

Requires two-thirds vote of both Houses.

National Emergency Powers

President can exercise powers during war emergencies.

State of War Declaration

Congress declares war with 2/3 vote of both Houses.

Appropriation Bill

Bill aimed at allocating money from treasury.

Revenue Bill

Bill designed primarily to raise government revenue.

Tariff Bill

Bill imposing customs duties for revenue purposes.

Public Debt Increase Bill

Bill creating public indebtedness, like bond issuance.

Local Application Bill

Bill affecting local or municipal concerns only.

Private Bill

Bill addressing private interests or individual compensation.

Presidential Budget Limit

Congress cannot increase President's recommended appropriations.