Functions of Law
1. Defines the right and duties of the citizens
2. Imposes taxes
3. Appropriate funds
4. Defines crimes and provides their punishment
5. Creates and abolishes Government Offices
Legislative branches
1. House of Senate- composes of senators
2. House of Representative- composes of different congressman
House of Representative
- There are 250 Representatives/congressmen.
- Composes of Different provincial representative and different party list.
- They have 3 years term.
Qualification of a Congressman
a. Natural Born Citizen of the Philippines
b. At least 25 years of Age
c. Able to read and write
- 3 consecutive term is not allowed
Party List
- It is the 20% of the number of congressmen.
- Representative of different sectors such as the teens, woman, athletes.
ARTICLE VI
Legislative Department
SECTION 1. The legislative power shall be vested in the Congress of the Philippines which shall
consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives, except to the extent reserved to the
people by the provision on initiative and referendum.
LEGISLATIVE POWER- essentially the authority under the Constitution to make laws and
subsequently, when the need arises, to alter and repeal them.
PECULIAR TASK OF THE LEGISLATURE:
To prescribe general rules for the government of society.
LAWS- statues which are the written enactments of the legislature governing the relations of the
people among themselves or between them and the government and its agencies.
Laws being describe is the Statutory Laws
FUNCTION OF LAWS
Legislature
defines the rights and duties of citizens
imposes taxes, appropriates funds
defines crimes and provides for their punishment
creates and abolishes government offices, determines their jurisdiction and functions
and in general, regulates human conduct and the use of property for the promotion of the
common good.
LEGISLATIVE POWER VESTED IN CONGRESS
Congress of the Philippines- double-chamber body and bicameral structure consisting of:
Senate/House of Senate- composes of Senators
Senate President
Aquilino Koko Pimentel
Below are the current Senators of the Philippines.
The following senators are elected on May 2013 and will serve until June 30, 2019.
Sen. Juan Edgardo "Sonny" M. Angara
Sen. Paolo Benigno "Bam" A. Aquino IV
Sen. Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay
Sen. Allan Peter S. Cayetano
Sen. Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito
Sen. Francis "Chiz" G. Escudero
Sen. Gregorio "Gringo" B. Honasan II
Sen. Loren B. Legarda
Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III
Sen. Grace L. Poe
Sen. Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV
Sen. Cynthia A. Villar
The following senators are elected on May 2016 and will serve until June 30, 2022.
Sen. Leila M. de Lima
Sen. Franklin "Frank" M. Drilon
Sen. Sherwin "Win" T. Gatchalian
Sen. Richard "Dick" J. Gordon
Sen. Ana Theresia "Risa" N. Hontiveros
Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson
Sen. Emmanuel "Manny" D. Pacquiao
Sen. Francis Pancratius "Kiko" N. Pangilinan
Sen. Ralph G. Recto
Sen. Vicente "Tito" C. Sotto III
Sen. Emmanuel Joel Villanueva
Sen. Juan Miguel "Migz" F. Zubiri
ADVANTAGES OF BICAMERALISM
1. Second Chamber Senate is necessary to serves as a check to hasty and ill-considered
legislation;
2. Serves as training ground for future leaders;
3. Provides representation for both regional and national interests;
4. Bicameral legislature is less susceptible to bribery and control of big interests;
5. Traditional form of legislative body dating from ancient times; as such it has been tested
and proven in the crucible of human experience.
DISADVANTAGES OF BICAMERALISM
1. Bicameral set-up has not worked out as an effective fiscalizing machinery;
2. Although it affords a double consideration of bills, it is no assurance of better consider
and better deliberated legislation;
3. It produces duplication of efforts and serious deadlocks in the enactment of important
measures with the Conference Committee of both Houses, derisively called the third
chamber practically arrogating unto itself the power to enact law under its authority to
thresh out differences;
4. All things being equal, it is more expensive to maintain than a unicameral legislature;
and
5. The prohibitive costs of senatorial elections have made if possible for only wealthy
individuals to make it to the Senate; and as to the claim that a Senate is needed to
provide a training ground for future leaders, two of our Presidents became chief
executives even if their service was confined to the House of Representatives.