Legislative Department Flashcards
(30 cards)
Legislative Power
Authority of the government to enact laws, repeal, or amend them.
Article VI Section 1
Legislative power shall be vested to the congress of the Philippines, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives
Law
Statutes which are written enactments of the legislative governing the relations of the people among themselves or between them & the government and its agencies
Bill
Draft of a law submitted to the consideration of a legislative body for its adoption
Statute
Written will of the legislative as an organized body expressed according to the form necessary to constitute it into a law of the state
Bicameral Setup
Double Chamber Body
Article VI Section 2
The Senate shall be composed of 24 Senators who shall be elected at large by the qualified voters of the Philippines as may be provided by the law
Article VI Section 3
Requirements for Senators:
- Natural Born Citizen of the Philippines
- At least 35 years of age
- Able to read and write
- Registered Voter
- Resident of the Philippines for not less than 2 years immediately preceding the election
Election of Senators (Article VI Section 8)
Regular elections shall be held on the second Monday of May
Term of Office (Artice VI Section 4 Paragraph 1)
6 years commencing noon on the 30th day of June
Maximum Term of Office- Senators
A senator is disqualified to serve for more than 2 consecutive terms
Article II Section 26
State policy on equal opportunities for public service & against political dynasties
House of Representatives
Lower chamber of the congress, composed of not more than 250 members
Article VI Section 5
[1]
The House of Representatives shall be elected from legislative or congressional districts through a party-list system
Term of Office (Article VI Section 7 Paragraph
1)
3 years to begin at noon on the 30th day following their election
Qualifications (Article VI Section 6)
- Natural Born Citizen of the Philippines
- At least 25 years of age
- Able to read and write
- Registered voter in the district in which he/she shall be elected
- A resident thereof for a period not less than 1 year
Maximum Terms - House of Representatives (Article VI Section 7, Paragraph 1)
The limit is for not more than 3 consecutive terms
Advantages of Bicameralism
- Serves as a check to hasty and ill-considered legislation
- Training ground for future leaders
- Provides a representation for both regional and national interests
- Less susceptible to bribery and control of big interests
- Traditional form of legislative body dating from ancient times and it has been tested and proven in the crucible of human experience
Disadvantages of Bicameralism
- It has not worked as an effective “fiscalizing” or counter-check machinery
- No assurance of better considered and better deliberated legislation
- Produces duplication of efforts & serious deadlocks in the enactment of important matters
- Expensive to maintain
- Prohibitive costs of senatorial elections have made it possible for only wealthy individuals to make it to the senate
Basic Aim of the Party List System
To attain the broadest possible representation of all interests in its law & policy making body
Officers of the Senate
- Senate President
- Majority Floor Leader
- Minority Floor Leader
- Secretary
- Sergeant at Arms
- Disbursing Officer
Officers of the House of Representatives
- House Speaker
- Deputy Speakers
- Majority Floor Leader
- Minority Floor Leader
- Secretary
- Sergeant at Arms
- Disbursing Officer
Quorum
At least 1/2 + 1 of the members of a body. The number that makes a lawful body giving it the power to pass a law/ordinance, or do any other valid corporate act
Legislative Journal
Official Record of what is done and passed in a legislative assembly