Legislative Department

Question 1

Legislative Power

Answer 1

Authority of the government to enact laws, repeal, or amend them.

Question 2

Article VI Section 1

Answer 2

Legislative power shall be vested to the congress of the Philippines, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives

Question 3

Law

Answer 3

Statutes which are written enactments of the legislative governing the relations of the people among themselves or between them & the government and its agencies

Question 4

Bill

Answer 4

Draft of a law submitted to the consideration of a legislative body for its adoption

Question 5

Statute

Answer 5

Written will of the legislative as an organized body expressed according to the form necessary to constitute it into a law of the state

Question 6

Bicameral Setup

Answer 6

Double Chamber Body

Question 7

Article VI Section 2

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Article VI Section 3

Answer 8

Requirements for Senators:

1. Natural Born Citizen of the Philippines
2. At least 35 years of age
3. Able to read and write
4. Registered Voter
5. Resident of the Philippines for not less than 2 years immediately preceding the election

Question 9

Election of Senators (Article VI Section 8)

Answer 9

Regular elections shall be held on the second Monday of May

Question 10

Term of Office (Artice VI Section 4 Paragraph 1)

Answer 10

6 years commencing noon on the 30th day of June

Question 11

Maximum Term of Office- Senators

Answer 11

A senator is disqualified to serve for more than 2 consecutive terms

Question 12

Article II Section 26

Answer 12

State policy on equal opportunities for public service & against political dynasties

Question 13

House of Representatives

Answer 13

Lower chamber of the congress, composed of not more than 250 members

Question 14

Article VI Section 5

[1]

Answer 14

The House of Representatives shall be elected from legislative or congressional districts through a party-list system

Question 15

Term of Office (Article VI Section 7 Paragraph

1)

Answer 15

3 years to begin at noon on the 30th day following their election

Question 16

Qualifications (Article VI Section 6)

Answer 16

1. Natural Born Citizen of the Philippines
2. At least 25 years of age
3. Able to read and write
4. Registered voter in the district in which he/she shall be elected
5. A resident thereof for a period not less than 1 year

Question 17

Maximum Terms - House of Representatives (Article VI Section 7, Paragraph 1)

Answer 17

The limit is for not more than 3 consecutive terms

Question 18

Advantages of Bicameralism

Answer 18

1. Serves as a check to hasty and ill-considered legislation
2. Training ground for future leaders
3. Provides a representation for both regional and national interests
4. Less susceptible to bribery and control of big interests
5. Traditional form of legislative body dating from ancient times and it has been tested and proven in the crucible of human experience

Question 19

Disadvantages of Bicameralism

Answer 19

1. It has not worked as an effective “fiscalizing” or counter-check machinery
2. No assurance of better considered and better deliberated legislation
3. Produces duplication of efforts & serious deadlocks in the enactment of important matters
4. Expensive to maintain
5. Prohibitive costs of senatorial elections have made it possible for only wealthy individuals to make it to the senate

Question 20

Basic Aim of the Party List System

Answer 20

To attain the broadest possible representation of all interests in its law & policy making body

Question 21

Officers of the Senate

Answer 21

1. Senate President
2. Majority Floor Leader
3. Minority Floor Leader
4. Secretary
5. Sergeant at Arms
6. Disbursing Officer

Question 22

Officers of the House of Representatives

Answer 22

1. House Speaker
2. Deputy Speakers
3. Majority Floor Leader
4. Minority Floor Leader
5. Secretary
6. Sergeant at Arms
7. Disbursing Officer

Question 23

Quorum

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Legislative Journal

Answer 24

Official Record of what is done and passed in a legislative assembly

Question 25

Formal Parts of a Law

Answer 25

1. Title
2. Preamble
3. Enacting
4. Body
5. Effectivity Clause

Question 26

Steps in the Passage of a Bill

Answer 26

1. First Reading
2. Referral to the Appropriate Committee
3. Second Reading
4. Debates
5. Printing and Distribution
6. Third Reading
7. Referral to Other Houses
8. Submission to joint Bicameral Committee
9. Submission to the President

Question 27

Purpose of Provision Requiring Three Readings of a bill

Answer 27

To prevent hasty and improvident legislation and the railroading of bills and to compel the careful examination of proposed laws

Question 28

When a Bill may become a law

Answer 28

1. When the President approves the bill by signing it
2. When the President vetoes the bill & returns the same with his objections to the house where it originated and the same is repassed over his veto by a vote of 2/3 of all members of both houses
3. If the president does not communicate his veto of any bill to the house where it originated within 30 days after the date of the receipt thereof in which case ir shall become a law as if he had signed it

Question 29

National Legislative Level

Answer 29

Senate & House of Representatives

Question 30

Local Legislative Level

Answer 30

Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Bokal)
Sangguniang Bayan
Sangguniang Barangay