Pol Sci ETA

Unit Topic: The Philippine Congress

• 1. Types of Laws

• 2. Parts of a bill

Learning Competencies:

• Discuss the roles and responsibilities of the Philippine Senate and the House of Representatives HUMSS_PG12-Ii-27

• Articulate a position or advocacy to a Philippine legislator through a formal correspondence HUMSS_PG12-Ii-30
  
  

• Additional key points: Read about the following social issues in the Philippines

  • Rampant spread of illegal drugs. 

  • Rise of widespread online gambling in the country. 

  • Natural disasters such as typhoons becoming more frequent and stronger in the last few years. 

The slide presentation is already uploaded in the modules. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to message.

Types of Laws

• Constitutional Laws

  • 1987 Constitution

    • The supreme law of the land, which serves as the foundation of the entire legal system. It defines the structure of government, fundamental rights of citizens, and the basic principles of governance

  • Any law inconsistent with the Constitution can be declared unconstitutional and invalid by the courts

  • President, Congress, and LGUs are under this type of law

  • Examples

    • Article 3: Bill of Rights

      • No person shall be deprives of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, not shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws

• Statutory Laws (Republic Acts)

  • Laws passed by the Philippines Congress and signed by the President

  • They cover a wide range of subjects, from taxation to social welfare

  • Example

    • R.A. 7610

      • Special protection of children against abuse, exploitation, and discrimination

• Treaties and International Agreements

  • Ratified by the Senate, become part of domestic laws

  • Created internationally but became part of our law

    • Like created by the UN

  • Example

    • UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989

• Executive Orders

  • Issued by the President to direct the operation of the government

  • Congress have the force of law as long as they pertain to executive functions

  • Example

    • E.O. 292

      • Governs the operations of the executive branch

        • Defines the roles of the executive branch

• Presidential Decrees

  • Laws issued by the President during the Martial Law period

  • They remain valid and are part of the legal system unless repealed by subsequent laws or declared unconstitutional

  • Example

    • P.D.

      • Protecting forestry areas

• Proclamations

  • Declare special days, designate state of emergencies, or declare lands as public or private

  • Example

    • Proclamation 1081

      • Declaration of Martial Law

• Ordinances

  • Passed by local government units (LGUs)

  • These laws apply within the local government unit

  • Example

    • C.O. 17-072

      • Prohibition of smoking products

Title and Short Title

• Titles

  • Concise and summative summary

• Short Title

  • Shorter version of the title that is used for reference

Statement of Policy

• Contains the intent, goals, and scope the bill aims to achieve

Body

• Main part

• What the bill is about

  • Contains specifics

• May be divded into section, subsections, and paragraphs

• Types of Clauses

  • Repealing Clause

    • Only use when you are repealing or amending an existing law

  • Separability Clause

    • If any part violates the constitution, the rest of the bill can still be applied

  • Effective Clause

    • Date when the law will be in effect