PPGC MIDTERMS

• Midterm Topics

  • Legislative Department
  • Executive Department
  • Judicial Department
• Legislative power


  The power or competence of the legislature to enact, ordain, alter, or modify, repeal, or abrogate existing laws
• Advantages of Bicameralism


  • Allows for a body with a national perspective to check the parochial tendency of representatives elected by district
  • Allows for more careful study of legislation
  • Makes the legislature less susceptible to control by the Executive
  • Serves as training ground for national leaders
• Advantages of Unicameralism

  • Simplicity of organization resulting in economy and efficiency
  • Facility in pinpointing responsibility for legislation
  • Avoidance of duplication
• Senators


  Elected at large by the qualified voters of the Philippines
• Qualifications for Senators

  • Natural-born citizen of the Philippines
  • At least thirty-five years of age on the day of the election
  • Able to read and write
  • Registered voter in the district in which he shall be elected
  • Resident of the Philippines for not less than two years immediately preceding the election
• Term of Office for Senators

  Six years, commencing at noon on the 30th day of June next following their election
• No Senator shall serve for more than two consecutive terms
• 2 Kinds of Members of the House of Representatives

  • District Representatives elected directly and personally from the territorial unit he is seeking to represent
  • Party-list Representatives - chosen indirectly, through the party he represents, which is the one voted for by the electorate
• Qualifications of HOR Members

  • Natural-born citizen of the Philippines
  • At least twenty-five years of age
  • Able to read and write
  • Registered voter in the district in which he shall be elected
  • Resident thereof for a period of not less than one year immediately preceding the election
• Term of Office for House of Representatives Members

  Three years, commencing at noon on the 30th day of June next following their election
• No Member of the House of Representatives shall serve for more than three consecutive terms
• Kinds of election for members of Congress

  • Regular election - held on the second Monday of May
  • Special election - called in case of vacancy
• Congress is prohibited from increasing or decreasing the salary of its members, but any increase can take effect only after the expiration of the full term of the members approving such increase
• Freedom from Arrest for Senators and House Members


  For offenses punishable by not more than six years imprisonment, while Congress is in session
• Freedom of Speech and Debate for Senators and House Members


  They shall not be questioned nor held liable in any other place for any speech or debate in Congress or in any committee thereof
• Senators and House Members must make a full disclosure of their financial and business interests upon assumption of office
• Senators and House Members may not hold any other office or employment in the Government during their term without forfeiting their seat
• Congress shall convene once every year on the fourth Monday of July for its regular session
• Quorum


  A number of membership which is competent to transact its business; is at least one-half plus one of the members of a body
• Legislative Journal


  The official record of what is done and passed in a legislative assembly and the proceedings occurred from day to day
• Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET)


  Composed of three Justices of the Supreme Court designated by the Chief Justice and six Members of the Senate or the House of Representatives
• Charitable institutions, churches and personages actually, directly, and exclusively used for religious, charitable, or educational purposes shall be exempt from taxation
• Uniformity in Taxation


  All taxable articles or properties of the same class shall be taxed at the same rate
• Equity in Taxation


  The apportionment of the tax burden shall be more or less just in the light of the taxpayer's ability to shoulder the tax burden
• No money shall be paid out of the Treasury except in pursuance of an appropriation made by law
• No public money or property shall be appropriated, applied, paid, or employed, directly or indirectly, for the use, benefit or support of any sect, church, denomination, sectarian institution, or system of religion
• No law shall be passed increasing the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court without its advice and concurrence
• No law granting a title of royalty or nobility shall be enacted
• Initiative and Referendum


  Whereby the people can directly propose and enact laws or approve or reject any act or law or part thereof passed by the Congress or local legislative body after the registration of a petition therefor signed by at least 10% of the total number of registered voters, of which every legislative district must be represented by at least 3% of the registered voters
• Executive Power


  The power to administer the laws, which means carrying them into practical operation and enforcing their due observance
• The President is both the Head of State and the Head of the Government
• President


  The Executive
• Following the 1935 Charter, Section 1 vests the executive power in one person alone - the President of the Philippines
• Chief Executive


  The President in a presidential system of government is referred to as the Chief Executive
• Under both the 1935 and the present Constitution, the President is both the Head of State and the Head of the Government
• The President is purely an executive, not a legislative leader with membership in Congress
• There have been 16 Presidents from 1898 up to the present
• Laws included in executive power

  • Constitution
  • Statutes enacted by Congress
  • Decrees (issued under the 1973 Constitution)
  • Executive orders of the President
  • Decisions of courts
• The Vice-President shall have the same qualifications and term of office as the President and may be removed from office on impeachment as in the case of the President