PPG

• ARTICLE VI SECTION 1. The legislative power shall be vested in the Congress of the Philippines which shall consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives, except to the extent reserved to the people by the provisions on initiative and referendum.
• The Philippine Senate is composed of 24 senators half of which are elected every three years. Each senator, therefore, serves a total of six years.
• In the ongoing 18th Congress, there are 304 seats in the House of

  Representatives. The Constitution states that the House "shall be composed of not more than 250 members, unless otherwise fixed by law," and that at least 20% of it shall be sectoral representatives.
• There are two types of congressmen: the district and the sectoral representatives.
• The district congressmen represent a particular congressional district of the country. All provinces in the country are composed of at least one congressional district.
• the party-list was open to underrepresented community sectors

  or groups, including labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural, women, youth, and other such sectors as may be defined by law (except the religious sector).
• The party-list congressmen meanwhile represent the minority sectors of the population.
• The Constitution provides that Congress shall convene for its regular session every year beginning on the 4th Monday of July. A regular session can last until 30 days before the opening of its next regular session in the succeeding year. The President may, however, call special sessions which are usually held between regular legislative sessions to handle emergencies or urgent matters.
• The Senate of the Philippines is composed of 24 Senators elected at

  large (nationwide) by the qualified voters, as may provide by law.
• The House of Representatives is composed of not more than 250

  members, 20% of which is composed of Party-List representatives.
• A qualified candidate for Senate must be: 1. Natural-born citizen of the Philippines 2. Able to read and write 3. Registered voter 4. Must be at least 35 years old 5. A resident of the Philippines for not less than 2 years before the election day.
• Senate: It is six (6) years. It shall commence, unless otherwise provided by law, at noon on the 30th day of June next following their election.
• A qualified candidate for Representative must be: 1. Natural-

  born citizen of the Philippines 2. Able to read and write 3. Registered voter 4. Must beat least 25 years old 5. A resident of the Philippines for at least 1 year in the district where he/she will be
• HOR: It is three (3) years, to begin also, unless otherwise provided by law, at noon on the 30th day of June following their election.
• Senator is qualified to serve for more than 2 consecutive terms. Senator can run for reelection after a break or interval.
• HOR: The provisions as those for the Senators except the limit is not more than 3 consecutive terms. Under the constitution, are presentative cannot serve continuously for more than 9 years.
• Senate President and the Speaker of the House hold their office at the pleasure of the respective members of both Houses.
• Each House is authorized to choose such other officers as it may them necessary (Sec 16[1].), such as Senate President/Speaker Pro tempore, a Floor Leader, a Secretary, a Sergeant -at-arms, a Disbursing officer, Technical Assistants, etc. The rules of the Present House of Representatives provide for the election of three (3) Deputy Speakers
• Each Houses is also composed of various Committees, with their respective jurisdictions headed by assigned Chairman.
• Committee on the Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (Blue Ribbon) - handle all matters related to wrong doings or misconduct especially by a public official.
• Committee on Energy - Deals with all matters related to the exploration, exploitation, development, extraction, importation, refining, transport, distribution, marketing, conservation or storage of all forms of energy.
• Committee on Civil Service and Professional Regulation - All matters relating to organization, operation, managements, rules and regulations of the civil service.
• Committee on Legislative Franchises - All matters related to the grant, amendment, extension or revocation of franchises.
• Power is the ability to act or produce an effect: capacity for being acted upon or undergoing an effect.
• GENERAL LEGISLATIVE POWER -It consists of the enactment of laws intended as a rule of conduct to govern the relation between individuals (i.e., civil laws, commercial laws, etc.) or between individuals and the state (i.e., criminal law, political law, etc.)
• IMPLIED - It is essential to the effective exercise of other powers expressly granted to the assembly.
• INHERENT - These are the powers which though not expressly given are nevertheless exercised by the Congress as they are necessary for its existence such as:

  » to determine the rules of proceedings;

  » to compel attendance of absent members to obtain quorum to do business;

  » to keep journal of its proceedings; etc.
• SPECIFIC LEGISLATIVE - It has reference to powers which the Constitution expressly and specifically directs to perform or execute.
• CLASSIFICATION OF POWER OF CONGRESS: Specific Legislative, Inherent, Implied, General Legislative Power
• Legislators grouped in committees conduct hearings and consultation meetings to improve or pass a proposed bill. Those outside the group can also discuss any proposed bill in plenary before it is voted upon.
• Congress' role in exacting accountability is crucial as legislators play a part in checking on possible excesses by the executive and judicial branches of government.
• Congress has the power to remove from office impeachable government officials
• Congress has the “sole power to declare the existence of a state of war,” according to Section 23 Article VI of the Constitution. A vote of two-thirds of both Houses, voting separately, is needed.
• Congress can revoke the President’s proclamation of martial law by a vote of at least a majority of all members of the Senate and the House. If requested, Congress can also extend the period of martial law beyond the mandated 60 days.
• Congress may authorize the President to exercise powers to carry out a declared national policy “for a limited period and subject to restrictions" in times of war or other national emergency.
• Congressional committees can conduct hearings "in aid of legislation” on various issues that affect the nation and release a report based on findings.
• Congress is also involved in the national budget process.
• Congress, through the Commission on Appointments, can approve or reject some key appointments made by the president to government agencies.
• Congress needs to concur with any amnesty granted by the president, according to Section 19, Article VII of the Constitution. A vote of majority of all members is needed.
• Congress is heavily involved in starting charter change. It can either convene into a Constituent Assembly (through a vote of three-fourths of all members) and propose both amendments and revisions, or call for an election of members of a Constitutional Convention (vote of two-thirds of its members).