Philippine Government Quiz

The Executive

• The Philippines has a presidential, unitary, and republican system of government

• Under the Presidential system, the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches are separate and distinct from each other

• The separation of powers ensures that no one branch abuses its power, this is known as the doctrine of checks and balances

• Executive power is the power to implement laws in a country. This branch ensures the proper execution of laws.

• Section 1: The executive power is vested in the President of the Philippines

• Presidential qualifications: Natural-born citizen, registered voter, able to read and write, at least 40 years old at the time of election, a resident of the Philippines for at least 10 years immediately preceding election.

• Vice Presidential Qualifications: Natural born citizen, registered voter, able to read and write, at least 40 years old at the time of election, a resident of the Philippines for at least 10 years immediately preceding election.

• Presidential election: The candidate with the highest number of votes wins

• Terms of Office: President & Vice President: 6 years, president not eligible for reelection, vice president not eligible for two successive terms

• Section 7: The President-elect and the Vice President-elect assume office at the beginning of their terms. If the President-elect fails to qualify, the Vice President-elect acts as President until the President-elect qualifies.

• If the President-elect dies or becomes disabled, the Vice President-elect becomes President

• If both President- and Vice President-elect are unable, the President of the Senate acts until a new President or Vice President is chosen

• Congress creates the law for selection of acting President

• Congress will create the law by which a person is selected if the President or Vice-President cannot fulfill their role.

• Section 8: In case of death, permanent disability, removal from office or resignation of the President, the Vice-President shall become the President to serve until the end of the unexpired term; in case of disability of both, the President of the Senate or Speaker of the House of Representatives shall be Acting President until a new official is elected and qualified

• Congress shall create the law to specify who will act as President in the case of the death, permanent disability, or resignation of the Acting President

• Section 9: If a vacancy in the Vice-President position arises during their term, the President nominates a new Vice-President from members of the Senate and the House of Representatives

• Confirmation is done with majority vote of all members of both houses. Section 10: If there is a vacancy in the offices of the President and Vice-President, Congress must convene within 3 days then enact a law for a special election to be held within 45-60 days.

• Section 11: If the President declares inability, the Vice President will act as the Acting President, until such time the President delivers a written declaration to the contrary.

• The bill for a special election is deemed certified under a specific section of the constitution

• If a majority of the cabinet members deems the President unable to fulfill their duties, then the Vice President assumes the powers and duties as Acting President.

Executive Power

• Powers of the President over executive departments, bureaus, and offices
• Power of general supervision over the local government and autonomous regions
• Power to nominate, appoint and remove officials
• Budgetary and fiscal power
• Military power (Commander-in-Chief of the AFP)
• Power to contract or guarantee foreign loans
• Pardoning power
• Power to check other branches of the government
• Cabinet Secretaries act as the President's alter ego and execute the Office of power, responsible for their respective departments.
• Number of cabinet secretaries varies depending on the needs of the administration.
• The President can create or dissolve departments as needed

Appointment of Cabinet Secretaries

• Appointments to executive departments are made by the President with the consent of the Commission on Appointments.
• Names of nominees are submitted for consideration. Specified government officials require approval by the Commission on Appointments before assuming official responsibilities.

Powers of a Cabinet Secretary

• Cabinet secretaries act as the alter ego of the President in their respective departments
• They possess the power to issue directives related to their departments
• Orders only apply to offices under a specific department
• Cabinet secretaries advise the President on issues relating to their departments

The Legislative

• (Article VI of the 1987 Philippine Constitution)
• The Legislative branch creates the law of the country
• The legislative power is vested in the Congress of the Philippines, comprising the Senate and the House of Representatives
• There are 24 senators
• All proposed bills require the President's signature to become law
• The legislative branch proposes bills that can be enacted into law

The Legislative Process

• The legislative process involves proposing, enacting, and repealing laws.
• The process is guided by specific rules and procedures
• There are different types of resolutions: joint, concurrent, and simple

Legislative Process (Steps)

• Proposals
• First reading in the House of Representatives, then in the Senate
• Committee Consideration (House and Senate, where public hearings can be conducted)
• Calendaring for second reading
• Second reading in the House of Representatives, then in the Senate
• Voting on Second Reading
• Conference Committee action
• Third Reading in both Houses (House of Representatives and Senate)
• Transmittal to the President
• Presidential Action

The Judicial Branch

• The judicial branch is the system of courts that interpret and apply the law
• It provides mechanisms for dispute resolution
• The judicial power is vested in one supreme court and in such lower courts
• The court has the duty to settle disputes over legally enforceable rights.
• The judges have the central function to adjudicate and interpret the law
• It includes reviewing the constitutionality of laws

Judicial Branch Characteristics/Powers

• Independent, coordinate, and coequal branch of government
• Creation of judicial and bar council
• Expanded power of judicial review
• Fiscal Autonomy of the Judiciary
• Power to review proclamations or martial law and the suspension of habeas corpus
• Security of Tenure for Judges
• The Supreme Court as judge in presidential elections
• The structure includes the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and lower courts

Structure, Composition, and Function of the Judiciary

• The Philippine judiciary comprises regular courts assigned to administer justice
• Regular courts are categorized into review courts (Supreme Court, Court of Appeals) and trial courts (Regional Trial Courts, Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts)

The Supreme Court

• Highest court in the Philippines, consisting of 14 Associate Justices and 1 Chief Justice
• Appointees by the President based on nominees prepared by the Judicial and Bar Council
• Retirement age: 70; no term limit
• Original and appellate jurisdiction over various types of cases
• Administrative supervision over all lower courts and personnel

Court of Appeals

• Second highest judicial court in the Philippines Consists of 68 Associate Justices and one presiding judge.
• Appointed by the President; specified requirements apply to judges

Court of Tax Appeals

• Exclusive appellate jurisdiction over all tax cases, both civil and criminal in nature

Shari'a Court

• The Shari'a Court has jurisdiction over cases that concern Muslim Filipinos
• It has similar functions to regular courts but adheres to specific limits

Local Government Units

• In unitary systems, the national government possesses substantial control over local affairs
• Local governments are responsible for providing various services, including infrastructure and civic projects and implement national policies

Decentralization

• Involves transferring planning, decision-making, administrative authority from the central government to local units
• Includes deconcentration, parastatal organizations, devolution and transfer of function
• Major roles of local government include managing the environment, economic development, and educational development of the community.

Highly Urbanized Cities in the Philippines

• Minimum population of 200,000 inhabitants and annual income of 50 million pesos
• Specific list of cities are provided.

Local Government Revenue Sources

• Local government units create their own sources of revenue via levying taxes, business permits, and franchise fees

Nature of Elections and Political Parties

• Elections are used to selecting political leaders, shaping the government, providing representation, and contributing to political legitimacy.
• Political parties serve as channels through which citizens demand are channeled to government
• Political party functions include representing interests, forming and recruiting elites, formulating goals, articulating and aggregating interests, socializing and mobilizing, and organizing government structures

Civil Society

• Included in the third sector of society; civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations
• Civil society organizations operate independently from government but intersect with the government's role in the economy
• Successful civil societies are independent from the state and the market, and developed using endogenous and autonomous processes

Role of Civil Society in Good Governance

• Key agent in policy analysis and advocacy
• Regulates and monitors the actions of government officials and their performance
• Exposes corrupt conduct in governance and raises concerns about policy implementation
• Organize public forums for policy debate
• Builds social capital and enables citizens to articulate beliefs and values
• Mobilizes particular social constituencies
• Participates in developmental processes and activities
• NGOs provide service, humanitarian support, monitor policies and encourage citizens' engagement in government through information dissemination

Social Movements

• A social movement is a loosely organized effort by a larger group of people to actively resist or promote change

Types of Social Movements

• Alternative (Individual level, minor change)
• Redemptive (Individual level, radical change)
• Reformative (Broader group, minor change)
• Revolutionary (Broader group, radical change)

Examples of Social Movements in Philippine History

• Katipunan
• Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)
• Hukbalahap

Test your knowledge on the Philippine government structure, including the roles of senators, the Electoral Tribunal, and social movements. This quiz covers important aspects of legislation, appointments, and the function of social movements in society.