Enacting a Law

Question 1

Procedural requirements of enacting a bill into law (6)

Answer 1

1. First reading
2. Committee Review
3. Second Reading
4. Third Reading
5. Transmittal
6. Presidential Approval

Question 2

What happens in the first reading?

Answer 2

The bill is introduced and read for the first time, then referred to a
committee

Question 3

What happens in the committee review?

Answer 3

The committee evaluates the bill, may hold public hearings, and
prepares a report

Question 4

What happens in the second reading?

Answer 4

The bill is debated, amendments may be proposed, and it is voted on.

Question 5

What happens in the third reading?

Answer 5

Requires a final vote after printed copies are distributed three days prior,
unless expedited by the President due to emergencies.

Question 6

What happens in the transmittal?

Answer 6

If passed, the bill is sent to the other chamber for consideration

Question 7

What happens in the presidential approval?

Answer 7

The President can sign the bill into law or veto it

Question 8

Special requirements for particular types of laws (3)

Answer 8

1. Publication
2. Public hearings
3. National policy

Question 9

Explain publication as a special requirement

Answer 9

Law must be published or posted in public places before taking effect

Question 10

Explain public hearing as a special requirement

Answer 10

Often required, to gather feedback from affected parties, especially for
zoning ordinances or those affecting the public welfare

Question 11

Explain national policy as a special requirement

Answer 11

Ordinance must align with national laws, subject to review by higher
authorities.

Question 12

Voting requirements for Congress to amend the Constitution

Answer 12

three-fourths vote of all its members

Question 13

Voting requirements for Congress to call a constitutional convention

Answer 13

two-thirds vote of all its members

Question 14

Voting requirement for people’s initiative to amend the Constitution

Answer 14

A petition signed by at least 12 per centum of the total number of registered voters, with at least 3% of voters from each legislative district

Question 15

What is ratification?

Answer 15

This where amendments must be ratified by a majority vote in
a national referendum.

Question 16

What are appropriation laws?

Answer 16

The local chief executive prepares and submits the annual budget
to the local legislative body.

Question 17

Particular prohibitions in enacting laws (5)

Answer 17

Par. 7
No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, and the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed. No religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights.

Par. 8
No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press,
or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the Government for redress of grievances.

Par. 9
No law granting a title of nobility shall be enacted, and no person holding
any office of profit shall, without the consent of the Congress of the Philippines, accept any present, emolument, office, or title of any kind whatever from any foreign state.

Par. 10
No law impairing the obligation of contracts shall be passed

Par. 11
No Ex Post Facto and Bill of Attainder shall be enacted

Question 18

What is an ex post facto law?

Answer 18

A law that has retroactive application which makes criminal an act before the passage of the law and which was innocent when done, and punishes such an act

Question 19

What is a bill of attainder?

Answer 19

A bill of attainder is a law where it inflicts punishment without trial

Question 20

What is the enrolled bill doctrine?

Answer 20

The enrolled bill doctrine is a principle of judicial interpretation of rules of procedure in legislative bodies. Under the doctrine, once a bill passes a legislative body and is signed into law, the courts assume that all rules of procedure in the enactment process were properly followed.

Question 21

What is the Finality of Enrolled Bills?

Answer 21

It assumes that Once a bill is signed by the President it is considered conclusive evidence of its due enactment and validity

Question 22

What do you mean by Exclusion of Procedural Challenges?

Answer 22

Courts cannot review the legislative process or procedural steps that led to the bill’s final version. Parliamentary rules are merely procedural, and with their observance, the courts have no concern

Question 23

What is the presumption of regularity?

Answer 23

The process leading to the final enrolled bill is presumed to be correct and complete.

Question 24

Legal basis for the publication requirement?

Answer 24

Art.2 of the New Civil Code

Laws shall take effect after fifteen days following the completion of their
publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines, unless it is otherwise provided. The publication and the 15-day period requirements are intended to enable the people to become familiar with the statute or law.

Question 25

English for Veto

Answer 25

“I forbid” or “deny”

Question 26

Purposes of Veto (2)

Answer 26

1. To enable the executive department to protect its integrity as an equal branch of government and thus maintain an equilibrium of governmental powers. It strengthens the role of the President in the enactment of appropriation laws;
2. To provide a check on hasty, corrupt, or ill-considered legislation.

Question 27

3 Systems of Initiative

Answer 27

1. Initiative on the Constutition for amendments
2. Initiative on statutes
3. Initiative on local legislation

Question 28

What is a referendum?

Answer 28

Power of the electorate to approve or reject a legislation through an election called for the purpose

Question 29

2 Kind sof referendum

Answer 29

1. On statutes
2. On local law

Question 30

Differences between Ordinance v Resolution (4)

Answer 30

1. Ordinance is a permanent rule of conduct, resolutions are less permanent enactments
2. Ordinances are written laws adopted by municipal governing authority, Resolutiosn commonly deal with matters of special or temporary character
3. Oridnances are duly enacted by the proper authorities, prescribing general, uniform relating to the corporate powers of the municipality, Resolutions ordinarily denote something less solemn or formal than, or not rising to the dignity of, an ordinance
4. Ordinance is a legislative act, Resolution is an expression of opinion or mind or policy concerning some particular item of business coming within the legislative body’s official cognizance