Constitutional Commissions Flashcards
What are the Constitutional Commissions?
- The Commission on Elections
- Commission on Audit
- Civil Service Commission
Can the Congress touch the constitutional commission’s rulemaking power?
NO.
Without a constitutional amendment or revision.
Does the laws the (constitutional) commissions interprets and enforces fall within the prerogative of Congress?
YES.
As an administrative agency, its quasi-legislative power is subject to the same limitations applicable to other administrative bodies [Trade and Investment Development Corporation of the Philippines v. Civil Service Commission]
What are the Constitutional Safeguards to Ensure Independence of Constitutional Commissions?
- They are constitutionally created, hence may not be abolished by statute.
- Each commission is vested with powers and functions which cannot be reduced by statute.
- Independent constitutional bodies.
- The Chairmen and members may not be removed except by impeachment.
- Fixed term of office of 7 years.
- The Chairmen and members may not be appointed in an acting capacity.
- The salaries of the Chairmen and members may not be decreased during their tenure.
- The Commissions enjoy fiscal autonomy.
- Each Commission may promulgate its own procedural rules, provided they do not diminish, increase or modify substantive rights (though subject to disapproval by the Supreme Court).
- The Commission may appoint their own officials and employees in accordance with Civil Service Law.
What are the requisite conditions for a promotiona appointment from commissioner to chairman of a constitutional commissione to be valid?
Sec. 1(2), Article IX-D (Commission on Audit) of the Constitution does not prohibit a promotional appointment from commissioner to chairman as long as:
- The commissioner has not served the full term of 7 years; and
- The appointment to any vacancy shall be only for the unexpired portion of the term of the predecessor. [Sec. 1(2), Article IX-D]
- The promotional appointment must conform to the rotational plan or the staggering of terms in the commission membership [Funa v. Commission on Audit, G.R. No. 192791 (2012)].
Can a member of a Commission on Audit be appointed or designated in a temporary or acting capacity?
NO.
What is the difference between term and tenure?
Term – the time during which the officer may claim to hold office as of right, and fixes the interval after which the several incumbents shall succeed one another
Tenure – term during which the incumbent actually holds the office The term of office is not affected by the hold-over. The tenure may be shorter than the term for reasons within or beyond the power of the incumbent.
[iden]
This is the time during which the officer may claim to hold office as of right, and fixes the interval after which the several incumbents shall succeed one another
Term
This is the term during which the incumbent actually holds the office The term of office is not affected by the hold-over. The tenure may be shorter than the term for reasons within or beyond the power of the incumbent.
Tenure
[iden]
This is the central personnel agency of the Government.
Civil Service Commission
Sec. 3, Art. IX-B.
The Civil Service Commission, as the central personnel agency of the Government, shall establish a career service and adopt measures to promote morale, efficiency, integrity, responsiveness, progressiveness, and courtesy in the civil service. It shall strengthen the merit and rewards system, integrate all human resources development programs for all levels and ranks, and institutionalize a management climate conducive to public accountability. It shall submit to the President and the Congress an annual report on its personnel programs.
Sec. 3, Art. IX-B. The Civil Service Commission, as the central personnel agency of the Government, shall establish a career service and adopt measures to promote morale, efficiency, integrity, responsiveness, progressiveness, and courtesy in the civil service. It shall strengthen the merit and rewards system, integrate all human resources development programs for all levels and ranks, and institutionalize a management climate conducive to public accountability. It shall submit to the President and the Congress an annual report on its personnel programs.
What are the functions of the Civil Service Commission?
Functions:
a. In the exercise of its powers to implement R.A. 6850 (granting civil service eligibility to employees under provisional or temporary status who have rendered seven years of efficient service), the CSC enjoys a wide latitude of discretion, and may not be compelled by mandamus [Torregoza v. Civil Service Commission, G.R. No. 101526 (1992)].
b. Under the Administrative Code of 1987, the Civil Service Commission has the power to hear and decide administrative cases instituted before it directly or on appeal, including contested appointments.
c. The Commission has original jurisdiction to hear and decide a complaint for cheating in the Civil Service examinations committed by government employees [Cruz v. CSC, G.R. No. 144464 (2001)].
d. It is the intent of the Civil Service Law, in requiring the establishment of a grievance procedure, that decisions of lower level officials (in cases involving personnel actions) be appealed to the agency head, then to the Civil Service Commission [Olanda v. Bugayong, G.R. No. 140917 (2003)].
What is the scope of the civil service?
Embraces all branches, subdivisions, instrumentalities and agencies of the Government, including GOCCs with original charters
[Sec. 2(1), Art. IX-B, Constitution].
Does Civil Service include government-owned or controlled corporations which are organized as subsidiaries of government-owned or controlled corporations under the general corporation law?
NO.
The Civil Service does not include governmen towned or controlled corporations which are organized as subsidiaries of government-owned or controlled corporations under the general corporation law
[National Service Corp. v. NLRC, GR No. L-69870 (1988)].
Is the University of the Philippines a part of the Civil Service Commission?
NO.
The University of the Philippines, having an original charter, is clearly part of the CSC [University of the Philippines v. Regino, G.R. No. 88167 (1993)].
What is the Composition of the Civil Service Commission?
A Chairman and 2 Commissioners
What are the qualifications of the Chairman and Commissioners of the Civil Service Commission?
Qualifications: [Sec. 1(1), Art. IX-B]
a. Natural-born citizens of the Philippines;
b. At the time of their appointment, at least 35 years of age;
c. With proven capacity for public administration; and
d. Must not have been candidates for any elective position in the election immediately preceding their appointment.
What are the classes of (civil) service?
a. Career Service
b. Non-career service
[iden]
This is a class of (civil) service which is characterized by entrance (a) based on merit and fitness to be determined, as far as practicable, by competitive examinations, OR (b) based on highly technical qualifications; with opportunity for advancement to higher career positions and security of tenure.
Career Service
[iden]
This is a class of (civil) service which is characterized by entrance on bases other than those of the usual tests utilized for the career service; tenure limited to a period specified by law, or which is co-terminus with that of the appointing authority or subject to his pleasure, or which is limited to the duration
Non-career service
Career Service is characterized by what?
entrance
(a) based on merit and fitness to be determined, as far as practicable, by competitive examinations,
OR
(b) based on highly technical qualifications; with opportunity for advancement to higher career positions and security of tenure.
What are the different positions under Career Service?
- open career positions
- closed career positions
- career executive service
- career officers
- positions in the AFP
- personnel of GOCCs with original charter
- permanent laborers
- Open career positions: Where prior qualification in an appropriate examination is required.
- Closed career positions: e.g. scientific or highly technical in nature;
- Career Executive Service: undersecretaries, bureau directors
- Career Officers: Other than those belonging to the Career Executive Service who are
e. g.appointed by the President, e.g. those in theforeign service - Positions in the AFP although governed by a different merit system
- Personnel of GOCCs with original charters
- Permanent laborers, whether skilled, semiskilled or unskilled
Non-career service is characterized by what?
Characterized by entrance on bases other than those of the usual tests utilized for the career service; tenure limited to a period specified by law, or which is co-terminus with that of the appointing authority or subject to his pleasure, or which is limited to the duration
What are the positions considered to be under ‘non-career service’?
a. Elective officials, and their personal and confidential staff;
b. Department heads and officials of Cabinet rank who hold office at the pleasure of the President, and their personal and confidential staff;
c. Chairmen and members of commissions and bureaus with fixed terms;
d. Contractual personnel;
e. Emergency and seasonal personnel.
Can employees in the civil service resort to strikes to pressure the governement to accede to their demands?
NO.
Employees in the civil service may not resort to strikes, walkouts and other temporary work stoppages, like workers in the private sector, to pressure the Government to accede to their demands [SSS Employees Association v. CA]
Those who enter government service are subjected to a different degree of limitation on their freedom to speak their mind; however, it is not tantamount to the relinquishment of their constitutional right of expression otherwise enjoyed by citizens just by reason of their employment. Hence, a concerted activity or mass action done outside of government office hours shall not be deemed a prohibited concerted activity or mass action within the contemplation of this omnibus rules provided the same shall not occasion or result in the disruption of work or service [Davao City Water District v. Aranjuez,