Legislative Department Overview

Legislative Department

Section 1: Legislative power vested in Congress, composed of Senate and House of Representatives. Certain powers reserved to the people (initiative and referendum).
Section 2: Senate composed of 24 Senators, elected at-large by qualified voters.
Section 3: Qualifications for Senators: natural-born citizen, at least 35 years old on election day, able to read and write, registered voter, and resident for at least two years.
Section 4: Senatorial term is 6 years, starting June 30th after election. No person may serve more than two consecutive terms.
Section 5: House of Representatives composed of no more than 250 members, elected from legislative districts. Districts are apportioned by population. Party-list representatives make up 20% of the total.
Section 5 (2): For three terms after the Constitution's ratification, one-half of party-list seats for specific sectors (Labor, peasants, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, women, youth). Religious sector excluded.
Section 5 (3): Legislative districts should form contiguous, compact territories as much as possible. Cities with 250,000 or more or provinces must have at least one representative each.
Section 5 (4): Reapportionment of legislative districts must occur every 10 years, based on population.
Section 6: Qualifications for House Members: natural-born citizen, at least 25 years old on election day, able to read and write, registered voter in their district , and resident for one year.
Section 7: House Member term is 3 years, starting June 30th after election. No person can serve more than three consecutive terms.

Vacancy and Elections

Section 8: Regular elections for Senators and Representatives held on the second Monday of May, unless otherwise provided by law.
Section 9: Special elections to fill Senate or House vacancies. Elected officials serve remainder of unexpired term.

Privileges and Responsibilities

Section 10: Salaries of Senators and Representatives determined by law; no increase can take effect until after next election cycle..
Section 11: Senators and Representatives have privilege from arrest in offenses punishable by no more than six years imprisonment while Congress is in session. No member shall be questioned for speech or debate in Congress or committees.
Section 12: All members must disclose their financial and business interests, and notify their respective houses regarding potential conflicts of interest.
Section 13: Senators and Representatives may not hold other government positions, unless their positions were created or increased in compensation during their term, while in office.
Section 14: No person listed may give personal legal counsel, or have financial interest in a government contract. No self-dealing on behalf of their office is allowed.
Section 15: Congress assembles annually on the fourth Monday of July for regular session, and will continue in session until 30 days before the next session, excluding weekends and holidays. Special sessions may be called by the President.
Section 16: Senate elects President, House elects Speaker by majority vote, and each house can choose other officers as needed.
Section 17: Each house of Congress has its own Electoral Tribunal to resolve elections, returns, and qualifications of members. The tribunal is composed of 9 members, 3 Supreme Court justices, and 6 members from the Senate or House of Representatives via proportional representation.
Section 18: Commission on Appointments: President of the Senate as chair, 12 senators, and 12 representatives. Appointments must be confirmed within 30 session days.
Section 19: Electoral Tribunals and the Commission on Appointments established within 30 days of Congress organization. Commission will only meet during Congressional sessions.
Section 20: Congress records and accounts must be public and audited by the Commission on Audit, with annual published expenditure report for each member.
Section 21: Congressional committees may conduct investigations relating to legislation. Rights of individuals involved in congressional investigations must be respected.

Powers and Functions

Section 22: Heads of departments may appear before Congress on issues related to their departments; written questions must be submitted three days prior.
Section 23: Congress has sole power to declare war by a two-thirds vote of both houses in a joint session.
Section 24: Appropriation, revenue, and tariff bills, bills authorizing increase of public debt, bills of local application originate exclusively in the House of Representatives. Senate may propose or concur with amendments.
Section 25: Congress can't increase appropriations exceeding the President's budget recommendations.
No Law Can Embracing More Than One Subject
Section 26: Each bill must have only one subject that is clearly stated in the title
- No Bill Should Increase Appellate Jurisdiction of Supreme Court
Section 27: Bills passed by Congress must be presented to the President. If the President approves, it becomes a law. If Vetoed, it is returned to the House of Origin for reconsideration; in case of approval the vote must be by yea or nay
- The powers of the president are laid out in further detail.
Section 28: Unified and equitable tax system; Congress may authorize the President to fix tariff rates, quotas etc subject to limitations. Charitable institutions exempt from taxation, no tax exemption passed without majority vote.
Section 29: Public funds can only be spent through appropriation. No funds spent towards religious practices. Special funds must be kept separate and funds must be transferred to general funds if the purpose for the use of the fund is completed.
Section 30: Congress cannot increase appellate jurisdiction of Supreme Court without their advice and concurrence
Section 31: No law granting titles of royalty or nobility shall be enacted.
Section 32: Congress to establish systems for initiative and referendum allowing public participation in lawmaking. Petition needs support from at least 10% of registered voters, with at least 3% in every district