The Legislative Branch

Question 1

In order to be a senator one must be..

Answer 1

• natural born philippine citizen
• 35+ yrs old
• able to read and write
• a registered voter
• a resident of the PH for no less than 2yrs before election day

Question 2

To be a representative of the house/senate one must be…

Answer 2

• natural born philippine citizen
• 25+ yrs old
• able to read and write
• registered voter and resident for at least 1yr in the district where they shall be elected (except for party-list representatives)

Question 3

What is legislative power?

Answer 3

• power to enact laws, includes power to alter or repeal them
• bills are laws in the making

bills are only passed into a law when they are approved by both houses and the president

Question 4

How does a bill become a law? (Most basic format)

Answer 4

Proposal
⬇️
3 readings
⬇️
Presidential action

Question 5

What happens during the PROPOSAL?

Answer 5

1. Proposal (from president, god agencies, etc.)
   go to
2. the congress (senate, house of representatives) to act on proposals and suggestions
   which is then
3. filed to the secretary general
   - bill filed in the house is labeled H.B.
   - bill filed in the senate is labeled S.B.

Question 6

After the proposal, what happens during the 1ST READING?

Answer 6

• reading of title/author(s)
• referral to appropriate committee(s)
• if favorable, a report is submitted through committee of rules
• if rejected, bill dies

Question 7

What happens during the 2ND READING?

Answer 7

• after the 1st reading, the committee of rules includes bill in calendar of business for second reading
• sponsorship message
• period of debate
• amendments are made in accordance with rules of the house

Question 8

What happens during the 3RD READING?

Answer 8

• members vote, and if approved, bill shall be scheduled in calendar of bills for 3rd reading
• distribution of bill in final form
• no more amendments allowed
• roll call vote is called
• if approved by majority of members, transmit bill to other house

Question 9

After the 3 readings, what happens during PRESIDENTIAL ACTION?

Answer 9

• if approved by the other house through majority vote, final version of the bill is signed by senate president and speaker of the house
• in case of conflicting provisions between 2 houses, a bicameral conference committee is done to settle differences
• transmission of bill to president for action
• law takes effect after 15 days only after its publication on either the official gazette or newspaper of general circulation in the PH, unless otherwise stipulated

Question 10

What are the 3 different courses of action the president can take after receiving the bill (presidential action)

Answer 10

• approval = bill becomes a law
• no action :
  no action within 30 days of receipt = bill lapses into law
• veto :
  president vetoes bill and returns it to originating house with explanation