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POL101 CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES

Definition

  • Is the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines.

  • It is a bicameral body consisting of:

    • The Senate (upper chamber)

    • The House of Representatives (lower chamber)

The Senate

Composition

  • Composed of 24 senators

  • Half are elected every three years

  • Each senator serves a total of six years

  • Elected by the whole electorate

  • Do not represent any geographical district

The House of Representatives

Composition

  • Composed of a maximum of 250 congressmen

Types of Congressmen:

  1. District Congressmen – Represent a particular geographical district

  2. Sectoral Congressmen – Represent minority sectors (also known as party-list representatives)

Sessions of Congress

  • Congress convenes for its regular session every year beginning on the 4th Monday of July

  • The President may call special sessions (usually held between regular sessions to handle emergencies or urgent matters)

History of the Congress

  • 1900-1907: Philippines Commission (during American colonial rule)

  • 1902: Philippine Bill created a bicameral legislature (Philippine Commission = Upper House, Philippine Assembly = Lower House)

  • 1907: Bicameral legislature inaugurated under Speaker Sergio Osmeña and Floor Leader Manuel Quezon; adopted US Congress rules

  • 1916: Jones Law abolished the Philippine Commission, created House of Representatives and Senate

  • 1935: Constitution established a unicameral National Assembly

  • 1940: Amendment to 1935 Constitution restored bicameral Congress

  • 1946: Republic Act No. 6 declared existing Congress as the First Congress of the Republic

  • 1973: Bicameral Congress abolished, unicameral Batasang Pambansa created

  • 1987: Constitution restored presidential system and bicameral Congress

Powers of Congress

  1. Enact laws (including appropriation and taxation)

  2. Conduct legislative investigations

  3. Request heads of departments to appear

  4. Act as Board of Canvassers for presidential elections

  5. Call special elections for president and vice president

  6. Declare war and delegate emergency powers

  7. Revoke/extend habeas corpus or declare martial law

  8. Concur in presidential grant of amnesty

  9. Confirm presidential appointments

  10. Approve treaties and international agreements

  11. Determine President’s physical fitness

  12. Impeach President, Vice President, SC Justices, commissioners, Ombudsman

  13. Allow use of natural resources

  14. Amend the Constitution

Senate of the Philippines

Definition

  • Upper chamber of Congress

  • Composed of 24 senators elected nationwide at large

Terms

  • Serve 6 years

  • Half elected every 3 years

  • Senate is a continuous body

Exclusive Power

  • Only body that can authorize ratification of treaties

History of the Senate

  • 1916: Jones Law enacted

  • 1935: Tydings-McDuffie Act

  • 1938: National Assembly began considering bicameral proposals

  • 1940: Constitution amended to create bicameral legislature

  • 1972: Martial Law declared; Congress shut down

  • 1987: Senate restored with the 1987 Constitution

Qualifications

  • Natural-born citizen of the Philippines

  • At least 35 years old on election day

  • Able to read and write

  • A registered voter

  • Resident of the Philippines for at least 2 years before the election

Term of Office

  • Six years

  • Starts at noon on June 30 after the election

  • Elected on the second Monday of May

  • Not to serve more than two consecutive terms

Senate Officers

  1. President – Presiding officer, highest-ranking; elected by body
    Current: Juan Ponce Enrile

  2. President pro tempore – Presides in absence of Senate President
    Current: Jinggoy Estrada

  3. Secretary – Assists Senate President; manages offices and staff
    Current: Atty. Emma L. Reyes

  4. Sergeant-at-Arms – Responsible for Senate security and order
    Current: Jose V. Balajadia Jr.
    Asst: Rasmia Aida V. Saber

House of Representatives

Definition

  • Filipino: Kapulungan ng mga Kinatawan ng Pilipinas

  • Spanish: Camara de Representantes

  • Lower chamber of Congress

Members

  • Called Congressmen (mga kinatawan / konggresista)

  • Title: Representative

  • Term: Three years

  • May be reelected but not for more than three consecutive terms

Representation

  • 229 legislative districts (approx. 250,000 people each)

  • Sectoral representatives through party-list system (max. 20% of total)

Location

  • Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City

Leading Characters

  1. Speaker – Head of the House; presides, signs all official documents
    Elected by majority of all members
    Current: Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

  2. Deputy Speakers – Preside in absence of the Speaker
    Current Deputy Speakers:

    • Lorenzo Tañada III (Quezon)

    • Pablo P. Garcia (Cebu)

    • Arnulfo P. Fuentebella (Camarines Sur)

    • Jesus Crispin Remulla (Cavite)

    • Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar (Zamboanga City)

    • Raul Daza (Northern Samar)

  3. Majority Floor Leader – Spokesman of majority party, directs floor deliberations
    Also chairs Committee on Rules
    Current: Neptali M. Gonzales, Jr.

  4. Minority Floor Leader – Spokesman of minority; ex-officio committee member
    Traditionally, losing candidate for Speaker
    Current: Edcel Lagman (Albay)

  5. Secretary General – Enforces House orders, keeps records
    Current: Marilyn Barua-Yap

  6. Sergeant-at-Arms – Maintains order, enforces rules, protects personnel
    Current: Ret. Brig. Gen. Nicasio J. Radovan, Jr.