Jose Maria Ceasar C.

San Pedro 06 11796

Political Science 14

RULES OF PROCEDURE ON IMPEACHMENT TRIALS IN THE SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES The President can be impeached by the House of Representatives of the Philippines with at least one-thirds vote. After the House of Representatives files the case in the Senate, the Senate can start an investigation. When at least two-thirds of members of the Senate vote to convict the President, he shall be removed from office. I. When the Senate receives articles of impeachment against any person, the Senate President shall inform the House of Representatives that the Senate shall take proper order on the subject of impeachment and shall be ready to receive the prosecutors on such time and date as the Senate may specify. II. Upon such articles being presented to the Senate, the Senate shall, at 2 oclock in the afternoon of the day (except Saturday and Sunday) following such presentation, or sooner if ordered by the Senate, proceed to the consideration of such articles. It shall continue in session from day to day (except Saturday and Sunday) after the trial shall commence (unless otherwise ordered by the Senate) until final judgment shall be rendered, and so much longer as may, in its judgment, be needful. Before proceeding to the consideration of the articles of impeachment, the Presiding Officer shall administer the oath hereinafter provided to the Members of the Senate then present and to the other Members of the Senate as they shall appear, whose duty it shall be to take the same. III. When the President of the Philippines shall be impeached, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside, otherwise the Senate President shall preside in all other cases of impeachment. In a case requiring the said Chief Justice to preside, notice shall be given to him by the Senate President of the time and place fixed for the consideration of the articles of impeachment, as aforesaid, with a request to attend; and the said Chief Justice shall be administered and oath by the Senate President and shall preside over the Senate during the consideration of said articles and upon the trial of the person impeached therein. IV. The Presiding Officer shall have the power to make and issue, by himself or by the Secretary of the Senate, all orders, mandates, and writs authorized by these rules or by the Senate, and to make and enforce such other regulations and orders in the premises as the Senate may authorize or provide. V. The Senate shall have power to compel the attendance of witnesses, to enforce obedience to its orders, mandates, writs, and judgments, to preserve order, and to punish in a summary way contempts of, and disobedience to, its authority, orders, mandates, writs, or judgments, and to

make all lawful orders, rules, and regulations which it may deem essential or conducive to the ends of justice. And the Sergeant at Arms, under the direction of the Senate, may employ such aid and assistance as may be necessary to enforce, execute, and carry into effect the lawful orders, mandates, and writs of the Senate. VI. The Senate President shall direct all necessary preparations in the Senate Chamber, and the Presiding Officer on the trial shall direct all the forms of proceedings while the Senate is sitting for the purpose of trying an impeachment. The presiding officer _____________________ shall direct all forms during the trial not otherwise specially provided for under these rules. The President of the Senate or the Chief Justice when presiding on the trial may rule on all questions of evidence including, but not limited to, questions of materiality, relevancy, competency or admissibility of evidence and incidental questions, which ruling shall stand as the judgment of the Senate, unless a Member of the Senate shall ask that a formal vote be taken thereon, in which case it shall be submitted to the Senate for decision after one contrary view is expressed; or the Presiding Officer may at his/her option, in the first instance, submit any such question to a vote of the Members of the Senate. The motion for a vote and the contrary opinion shall not take more than two (2) minutes each, with a one minute rebuttal allowed for the proponent of the motion. Upon all such questions the vote shall be taken in accordance with the Standing Rules of the Senate. The Rules of Court shall apply insofar as they are applicable. Rules of evidence and procedures shall be liberally construed. VII. Upon the presentation of articles of impeachment and the organization of the Senate as hereinbefore provided, a writ of summons shall issue to the person impeached, reciting or incorporating said articles, and notifying him to appear before the Senate upon a day and at a place to be fixed by the Senate and named in such writ, and file his answer to said articles of impeachment. Within an unattendable period of ten days from receipt thereof, and to stand to and abide by the orders and judgments of the Senate thereon; which writ shall be served by such officer or person as shall be named in the order thereof, such number of days prior to the day fixed for such appearance as shall be named in such order either by the delivery of an attested copy thereof to the person impeached, or if that cannot conveniently be done, by leaving such copy at the last known place of abode of such person, or at his usual place of business in some conspicuous place therein; or if such service shall be, in the judgment of the Senate, impracticable, notice to the person impeached to appear shall be given in such other manner, by publication or otherwise, as shall be deemed just; and if the writ aforesaid shall fail of service in the manner aforesaid, the proceedings shall not thereby abate, but further service may be made in such manner as the Senate shall direct. If the person impeached, after service, shall fail to appear, either in person or by attorney, on the day so fixed thereof as aforesaid, or, appearing, shall fail to file his answer to such articles of impeachment, the trial shall proceed, nevertheless, as upon a plea of not guilty. If a plea of guilty shall be entered, judgment may be entered thereon without further proceedings. VIII. At 3 oclock in the afternoon of the day appointed for the return of the summons against the person impeached, the legislative business of the Senate shall be suspended, and the

Secretary of the Senate shall administer an oath to the returning officer in the form following: I, __________________, do solemnly swear that the return made by me upon the process issued on the ____ day of ______________, by the Senate of the Philippines, against __________________ is truly made, and that I have performed such service as therein described: So help me God. Which oath shall be entered at large on the records. IX. The person impeached shall then be called to appear and answer the articles of impeachment against him. If he appears, or any person for him, the appearance shall be recorded, stating particularly if by himself, or by agent or attorney, naming the person appearing and the capacity in which he appears. If he does not appear, either personally or by agent or attorney, the same shall be recorded. X. At 2 oclock in the afternoon, or at such other hour as the Senate may order, of the day appointed for the trial of an impeachment, the legislative business of the Senate shall be suspended, and the Secretary shall give notice to the House of Representatives that the Senate is ready to proceed upon the impeachment of _______________, in the Senate Chamber. XI. The hour of the day at which the Senate shall sit upon the trial of an impeachment shall be (unless otherwise ordered) 2 oclock in the afternoon; and when the hour shall arrive, the Presiding Officer upon such trial shall cause proclamation to be made, and the business of the trial shall proceed. The adjournment of the Senate sitting in said trial shall not operate as an adjournment of the Senate as a legislative body and on such adjournment the Senate shall resume the consideration of its legislative business. XII. The Secretary of the Senate shall record the proceedings in cases of impeachment as in the case of legislative proceedings, and the same shall be reported in the same manner as the legislative proceedings of the Senate. XIII. Counsel for the parties shall be admitted to appear and be heard upon an impeachment: Provided, That counsel for the prosecutors shall be under the control and supervision of the panel of prosecutors of the House of Representatives. XIV. All motions, objections, requests, or applications whether relating to the procedure of the Senate or relating immediately to the trial (including questions with respect to admission of evidence or other questions arising during the trial) made by the parties or their counsel shall be addressed to the Presiding Officer only, and if he, or any Senator, shall require it, they shall be committed to writing, and read at the Secretarys table. XV. Witnesses shall be examined by one person on behalf of the party producing them, and then cross-examined by one person on the other side. XVI. If a Senator is called as a witness, he shall be sworn, and give his testimony standing in his place.

XVII. If a Senator wishes to put a question to a witness, he/she shall do so within two minutes. A senator may likewise put a question to a prosecutor or to counsel of the prosecutor or the person impeached. He/she may also offer a motion of order, in writing which shall be submitted to the Presiding Officer. The parties or their counsel may interpose objections to witnesses answering questions propounded by any Senator and the merits of any such objection may be argued by the parties or their counsel. Ruling on any such objection shall be made as provided in Rule VI. XVIII. At all times while the Senate is sitting upon the trial of an impeachment the doors of the Senate shall be open to the public. XIX. All preliminary or interlocutory questions, and all motions, shall be argued for not exceeding one hour (unless the Senate otherwise orders) on each side. XX. The case, on each side, shall be opened by one person. The final argument on the merits may be made by two persons on each side (unless otherwise ordered by the Senate upon application for that purpose), and the argument shall be opened and closed on the part of the House of Representatives. XXI. An article of impeachment shall not be divisible for the purpose of voting thereon at any time during the trial. Once voting has commenced on an article of impeachment, it shall continue until completed on all articles of impeachment, unless the Senate adjourns for a period not to exceed one day or adjourns sine die. On the final question whether the impeachment is sustained, the yeas and nays shall be taken on each article of impeachment separately; and if the impeachment shall not, upon any of the articles presented, be sustained by the votes of two-thirds of all the Members, a judgment of acquittal shall be entered; but if the person impeached shall be convicted upon any such article by the votes of two-thirds of all the Members, the Senate may proceed to the consideration of such other matters as may be determined to be appropriate prior to pronouncing judgment. A motion to reconsider the vote by which any article of impeachment is sustained or rejected shall not be in order.

Form of putting the question on each article of impeachment The Presiding Officer shall first state the question; thereafter each Senator, as his/her name is called, shall rise in his/her place and answer: guilty or not guilty. If he/she so wishes, a Senator may explain his/her vote for not more than two (2) minutes. XXII. All the orders and decisions may be acted upon without objection, or, if objection is heard, the orders and decisions shall be voted on without debate by yeas and nays, which shall be entered on the record, subject, however, to the operation of Rule VI, except when the doors shall be closed for deliberation, and in that case no Member shall speak more than once on one question, and for not more than ten minutes on an interlocutory question, and for not more

than fifteen minutes on the final question, unless by consent of the Senate, to be had without debate; but a motion to adjourn may be decided without the yeas and nays, unless they be demanded by one-fifth of the Members present. The fifteen minutes herein allowed shall be for the whole deliberation on the final question, and not on the final question on each article of impeachment. XXIII. Witnesses shall be sworn in the following form: You _______________, do swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that the evidence you shall give in the case now pending between the Philippines and __________________, shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth: so help you God. Which oath shall be administered by the Secretary, or any other duly authorized person.

Form of a subpoena to be issued on the application of the prosecutors of the impeachment, or of the party impeached, or of his counsel To __________________, greetings: You are hereby commanded to appear before the Senate of the Philippines, on the _______ day of ____________, at the Senate Chamber in the City of Pasay, then and there to testify your knowledge in the case which is before the Senate in which the House of Representatives has impeached _____________, and to bring with you the following ___________, it being necessary to use the same as testimony. Fail not. Witness ______________, and Presiding Officer of the Senate, at the City of Pasay, this _______ day of _____________, in the year of our Lord.

______________________________, Presiding Officer of the Senate

Form of direction for the service of said subpoena The Senate of the Philippines to ____________, greeting: You are hereby commanded to serve and return the within subpoena according to law. Dated at Pasay, this ____ day of ________, in the year of our Lord ____.

_______________________, Secretary of the Senate

Form of oath to be administered to the Members of the Senate and the Presiding Officer sitting in the trial of impeachments I solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of ______ ______, now pending, I will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws: So help me God.

Form of summons to be issued and served upon the person impeached REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) SS. The Senate of the Philippines to _______________, greetings: Whereas the House of Representatives of the Philippines did, on the ____ day of ________, present to the Senate articles of impeachment against you, the said ______ ______, in the words following:

[Here insert the articles] And demand that you, the said _______________, should be put to answer the accusations as set forth in said articles, and that such proceedings, examinations, trials, and judgments might be thereupon had as are agreeable to law and justice. You, the said ____________, are therefore hereby summoned to be and appear before the Senate of the Philippines, at their Chamber in the City of Pasay, on the ____ day of __________________, at ____ oclock ____, then and there to answer to the said articles of impeachment, and then and there to abide by, obey, and perform such orders, directions, and judgments as the Senate of the Philippines shall make in the premises according to the Constitution and laws of the Philippines. Hereof you are not to fail. Witness ___________________, and Presiding Officer of the said Senate, at the City of Pasay, Philippines, this ____ day of ________, in the year of Our Lord _______.

______________________________, Presiding Officer of the Senate

Form of Order to be indorsed on said writ of summons REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) SS.

The Senate of the Philippines to ________________________, greetings: You are hereby commanded to deliver to and leave with __________ __________, if conveniently to be found, or if not, to leave at his usual place of abode, or at his usual place of business in some conspicuous place, a true and attested copy of the within writ of summons, together with a like copy of this order, and in whichsoever way you perform the service, let it be done at least ____ days before the appearance day mentioned in the said writ of summons. Fail not, and make return of this writ of summons and order, with your proceedings thereon endorsed, on or before the appearance day mentioned in the said writ of summons. Witness ______________________, and Presiding Officer of the Senate, at the City of Pasay, this ____ day of ____ in the year of Our Lord.

______________________________, Presiding Officer of the Senate

All process shall be served by the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate, unless otherwise ordered by the Senate. XXIV. If the Senate shall, at any time, fail to sit for the consideration of articles of impeachment on the day or hour fixed therefor, the Senate may, by an order to be adopted without debate, fix a day and hour for resuming such consideration.

Impeachment proceedings according to the 1987 Constitution

Article11: Accountability of Public Officers

SEC.1. Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives. SEC.2. The President, Vice-President, the Members of the Supreme Court, the Members of the Constitutional Commissions, and the Ombudsman may be removed from office, on impeachment for, and conviction of, culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust. All other public officers and employees may be removed from office as provided by law, but not by impeachment. SEC.3. (1) The House of Representatives shall have the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment. (2) A verified complaint may be filed by any Member of the House of Representatives or by any citizen upon a resolution of endorsement by any Member thereof, which shall be included in the Order of Business within ten session days, and referred to the proper Committee within three session days thereafter. The Committee, after hearing, and by a majority vote of all its Members, shall submit its report to the House within sixty session days from such referral, together with the corresponding resolution. The resolution shall be calendared for consideration by the House within ten session days from receipt thereof. (3) A vote of at least one-third of all the Members of the House shall be necessary either to affirm a favorable resolution with the Articles of Impeachment of the Committee, or override its contrary resolution. The vote of each Member shall be recorded. (4) In case the verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of all the Members of the House, the same shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed. (5) No impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against the same official more than once within a period of one year.

(6) The Senate shall have the sole power to try and decide all cases of impeachment. When sitting for that purpose, the Senators shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the Philippines is on trial, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside, but shall not vote. No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate. (7) Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than removal from office and disqualification to hold any office under the Republic of the Philippines, but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to prosecution, trial, and punishment according to law. (8) The Congress shall promulgate its rules on impeachment to effectively carry out the purpose of this section.

SEC.4. The present anti-graft court known as the Sandiganbayan shall continue to function and exercise its jurisdiction as now or hereafter may be provided by law. SEC.5. There is hereby created the independent Office of the Ombudsman, composed of the Ombudsman to be known as Tanodbayan, one overall Deputy, and at least one Deputy each for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. A separate Deputy for the military establishment may likewise be appointed. SEC.6. The officials and employees of the Office of the Ombudsman, other than the Deputies, shall be appointed by the Ombudsman according to the Civil Service Law. SEC.7. The existing Tanodbayan shall hereafter be known as the Office of the Special Prosecutor. It shall continue to function and exercise its powers as now or hereafter may be provided by law, except those conferred on the Office of the Ombudsman created under this Constitution. SEC. 8. The Ombudsman and his Deputies shall be natural-born citizens of the Philippines, and at the time of their appointment, at least forty years old, of recognized probity and independence, and members of the Philippine Bar, and must not have been candidates for any elective office in the immediately preceding election. The Ombudsman must have for ten years or more been a judge or engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines. During their tenure, they shall be subject to the same disqualifications and prohibitions as

provided

for

in

Section

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Article

IX-A

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this

Constitution.

SEC. 9. The Ombudsman and his Deputies shall be appointed by the President from a list of at least six nominees prepared by the Judicial and Bar Council, and from a list of three nominees for every vacancy thereafter. Such appointments shall require no confirmation. All vacancies shall be filled within three months after they occur. SEC.10. The Ombudsman and his Deputies shall have the rank of Chairman and Members, respectively, of the Constitutional Commissions, and they shall receive the same salary, which shall not be decreased during their term of office. SEC.11. The Ombudsman and his Deputies shall serve for a term of seven years without reappointment. They shall not be qualified to run for any office in the election immediately succeeding their cessation from office. SEC.12. The Ombudsman and his Deputies, as protectors of the people, shall act promptly on complaints filed in any form or manner against public officials or employees of the Government, or any agency, subdivision or instrumentality thereof, including governmentowned or controlled corporations, and shall, in appropriate cases, notify the complainants of the actions taken and the result thereof. SEC.13. The Office of the Ombudsman shall have the following powers, functions, and duties : (1) Investigate on its own, or on complaint by any person, any act or omission of any public official, employee, office or agency, when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust, improper, or inefficient. (2) Direct, upon complaint or at its own instance, any public official or employee of the Government, or any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, as well as of any government-owned or controlled corporation with original charter, to perform and expedite any act or duty required by law, or to stop, prevent, and correct any abuse or impropriety in the performance of duties. (3) Direct the officer concerned to take appropriate action against a public official or employee at fault, and recommend his removal, suspension, demotion, fine, censure, or prosecution, and ensure compliance therewith.

(4) Direct the officer concerned, in any appropriate case, and subject to such limitations as may be provided by law, to furnish it with copies of documents relating to contracts and transactions entered into by his office involving the disbursement or use of public funds or properties, and report any irregularity to the Commission on Audit for appropriate action. (5) Request any government agency for assistance and information necessary in the discharge of its responsibilities, and to examine, if necessary, pertinent records and documents. (6) Publicize matters covered by its investigation when circumstances so warrant and with due prudence. (7) Determine the causes of inefficiency, red tape, mismanagement, fraud, and corruption in the Government and make recommendations for their elimination and the observance of high standards of ethics and efficiency. (8) Promulgate its rules and procedure and exercise such other powers or perform such functions or duties as may be provided by law. SEC.14. The Office of the Ombudsman shall enjoy fiscal autonomy. Its approved annual appropriations shall be automatically and regularly released. SEC.15. The right of the State to recover properties unlawfully acquired by public officials and employees, from them or from their nominees or transferees, shall not be barred by prescription, laches, or 11stoppels. SEC.16. No loan, guaranty, or other form of financial accommodation for any business purpose may be granted, directly or indirectly, by any government-owned or controlled bank or financial institution to the President, the Vice-President, the Members of the Cabinet, the Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Constitutional Commissions, the Ombudsman, or to any firm or entity in which they have controlling interest, during their tenure. SEC.17. A public officer or employee shall, upon assumption of office and as often thereafter as may be required by law, submit a declaration under oath of his assets, liabilities, and net worth. In the case of the President, the Vice-President, the Members of the Cabinet, the Congress, the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Commissions and other constitutional offices, and officers of the armed forces with general or flag rank, the declaration shall be disclosed to the public in the manner provided by law.

SEC.18. Public officers and employees owe the State and this Constitution allegiance at all times, and any public officer or employee who seeks to change his citizenship or acquire the status of an immigrant of another country during his tenure shall be dealt with by law.

The Legislative Process

Preliminary Procedures The procedures for introducing legislation and seeing it through committees are similar in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Legislative proposals originate in a number of different ways. Members of the Senate, of course, develop ideas for legislation. Technical assistance in research and drafting legislative language is available at the Senate Legislative Technical Affairs Bureau. Special interest groupsbusiness, religious, labor, urban and rural poor, consumers, trade association, and the likeare other fertile sources of legislation. Constituents, either as individuals or groups, also may propose legislation. Frequently, a member of the Senate will introduce such a bill by request, whether or not he supports its purposes. It must be noted also that much of the needed legislation of the country today considered by Congress originates from the executive branch. Each year after the President of the Philippines outlines his legislative program in his State-of-the-Nation Address, executive departments and agencies transmit to the House and the Senate drafts of proposed legislations to carry out the Presidents program. Introduction of Bills No matter where a legislative proposal originates, it can be introduced only by a member of Congress. In the Senate, a member may introduce any of several types of bills and resolutions by filing it with the Office of the Secretary. There is no limit to the number of bills a member may introduce. House and Senate bills may have joint sponsorship and carry several members' names. Major legislation is often introduced in both houses in the form of companion (identical) bills, the purpose of which is to speed up the legislative process by encouraging both chambers to consider the measure simultaneously. Sponsors of companion bills may also hope to dramatize the importance or urgency of the issue and show broad support for the legislation.

Types of Legislation The type of measures that Congress may consider and act upon (in addition to treaties in the Senate) include bills and three kinds of resolutions. They are: 1. Bills These are general measures, which if passed upon, may become laws. A bill is prefixed with S., followed by a number assigned the measure based on the order in which it is introduced. The vast majority of legislative proposalsrecommendations dealing with the economy, increasing penalties for certain crimes, regulation on commerce and trade, etc., are drafted in the form of bills. They also include budgetary appropriation of the government and many others. When passed by both chambers in identical form and signed by the President or repassed by Congress over a presidential veto, they become laws. 2. Joint Resolutions A joint resolution, like a bill, requires the approval of both houses and the signature of the President. It has the force and effect of a law if approved. There is no real difference between a bill and a joint resolution. The latter generally is used when dealing with a single item or issue, such as a continuing or emergency appropriations bill. Joint resolutions are also used for proposing amendments to the Constitution. 3. Concurrent Resolutions A concurrent resolution is usually designated in the Senate as S. Ct. Res. It is used for matters affecting the operations of both houses and must be passed in the same form by both of them. However, they are not referred to the President for his signature, and they do not have the force of law. Concurrent resolutions are used to fix the time of adjournment of a Congress and to express the sense of Congress on an issue. 4. Simple Resolutions It is usually designated with P. S. Res. A simple resolution deals with matters entirely within the prerogative of one house of Congress, such as adopting or receiving its own rules. A simple resolution is not considered by the other chamber and is not sent to the President for his signature. Like a concurrent resolution, it has no effect and force of a law. Simple resolutions are used occasionally to express the opinion of a single house on a current issue. Oftentimes, it is also used to call for a congressional action on an issue affecting national interest. Bill Referrals Once a measure has been introduced and given a number, it is read and referred to an appropriate committee. It must be noted that during the reading of the bill, only the title and

the author is read on the floor. The Senate President is responsible for referring bills introduced to appropriate committees. The jurisdictions of the Standing Committees are spelled out in Rule X, Section 13 of the Rules of the Senate. For example, if a bill involves matters relating to agriculture, food production and agri-business, it must be referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Food. In Committee The standing committees of the Senate, operating as little legislatures, determine the fate of most proposals. There are committee hearings scheduled to discuss the bills referred. Committee members and staff frequently are experts in the subjects under their jurisdiction, and it is at the committee stage that a bill comes under the sharpest scrutiny. If a measure is to be substantially revised, the revision usually occurs at the committee level. A committee may dispose of a bill in one of several ways: it may approve, or reject, the legislation with or without amendments; rewrite the bill entirely; reject it, which essentially kills the bill; report it favorably or without recommendation, which allows the chamber to consider the bill at all. It must be noted that under Section 29, Rule XI of the Rules of the Senate, if the reports submitted are unfavorable, they shall be transmitted to the archives of the Senate, unless five Senators shall, in the following session, move for their inclusion in the Calendar for Ordinary Business, in which case the President shall so order. Committee Reports A committee report describes the purpose and scope of the bill, explains any committee amendments, indicates proposed changes in existing law and such other materials that are relevant. Moreover, reports are numbered in the order in which they are filed and printed.

Calendaring for Floor Debates: Consideration of, and Debates on Bills Under Section 45 of Rule XVI of the Rules of the Senate, the Senate shall have three calendars, to wit: A Calendar for Ordinary Business," in which shall be included the bills reported out by the committees in the order in which they were received by the Office of the Secretary; the bills whose consideration has been agreed upon by the Senate without setting the dates on which to effect it; and also the bills whose consideration has been postponed indefinitely; A Calendar for Special Orders, in which the bills and resolutions shall be arranged successively and chronologically, according to the order in which they were assigned for consideration; and

A Calendar for Third Reading, in which shall be included all bills and joint resolutions approved on second reading. Thus, a bill which has a committee report can be referred to the Calendar for Ordinary Business. It may again be moved to its Special Order of Business for priority action. On the other hand, the consideration and debate of bills and resolutions are spelled out in Rule XXV, Section 71 of the Rules of the Senate. It provides as follows: Sec. 71. The Senate shall adopt the following procedure in the consideration of bills and joint resolutions: (a) Second reading of the bill. (b) Sponsorship by the committee chairman, or by any member designated by the committee. (c) If a debate ensues, turns for and against the bill shall be taken alternately: Provided, however, That any committee member who fails to enter his objection or to make of record his dissenting vote after it shall have been included in the Order of Business and read to the Senate in accordance with the second paragraph of Section 24 hereof, shall not be allowed to speak against the bill during the period of general debate although he may propose and speak or vote on amendments thereto. (d) The sponsor of the bill or author of the motion shall have the right to close the debate. (e) With the debate closed, the consideration of amendments, if any, shall be in order. (f) After the period of amendments, the voting of the bill on Second Reading. (g) Bills shall be submitted to final vote by yeas and nays after printed copies thereof in final form have been distributed to the Members at least three (3) days prior to their passage, except when the President of the Philippines certifies to the necessity of their immediate enactment to meet a public calamity or emergency, in which case the voting on Third Reading may take place immediately after second reading. After the bill is approved on Third Reading, it will be submitted to the House of Representatives for consideration. A bill passed by the Senate and transmitted to the House usually goes to a committee, unless a House bill on the same subject has already been reported out by the appropriate committee and placed on the calendar. Under normal procedures, therefore, a bill passed by one chamber and transmitted to the other is referred to the appropriate committee, from which it must follow the same route to passage as a bill originating from that chamber.

Amendments may be offered at both the committee and floor action stages, and the bill as it emerges from the second chamber may differ significantly from the version passed by the first. A frequently used procedure when this occurs is for the chamber that acts last to bring up the other chambers bill and substitute its own version, then retaining only the latters bill number. That numbered bill, containing the Senate and House version, is then sent to a conference committee to resolve all differences. Conference Committee Action Calling a Conference Either chamber can request a conference once both have considered the same legislation. Generally, the chamber that approved the legislation first will disagree to the amendments made by the second body and will make a request that a conference be convened. Sometimes, however, the second body will ask for a conference immediately after it has passed the legislation, assuming that the other chamber will not accept its amendments. Selection of Conferees Under the Rules of the Senate (Rule XII, Section 34), the Senate President shall designate the members of the Senate panel in the conference committee with the approval of the Senate. The Senate delegation to a conference can range in size from three to a larger number, depending on the length and complexity of the legislation involved. Authority of Conferees The authority given to the Senate conferees theoretically is limited to matters in disagreement between the two chambers. They are not authorized to delete provisions or language agreed to by both the House and the Senate as to draft entirely new provisions. In practice, however, the conferees have wide latitude, except where the matters in disagreement are very specific. Moreover, conferees attempt to reconcile their differences, but generally they try to grant concession only insofar as they remain confident that the chamber they represent will accept the compromise. The Conference Report When the conferees have reached agreement on a bill, the conference committee staff writes a conference report indicating changes made in the bill and explaining each side s actions. Once a conference committee completes its works, it can now be submitted to the floor for its approval. Debate on conference reports is highly privileged and can interrupt most other business.

Approval of the conference report by both houses, along with any amendments on disagreement, constitutes final approval of the bill. Final Legislative Action After both houses have given final approval to a bill, a final copy of the bill, known as the enrolled bill, shall be printed, and certified as correct by the Secretary of the Senate and the Secretary General of the House of Representatives. After which, it will be signed by the Speaker of the House and the Senate President. A bill may become a law, even without the Presidents signature, if the Pr esident does not sign a bill within 30 days from receipt in his office. A bill may also become a law without the Presidents signature if Congress overrides a presidential veto by two -thirds vote. Summary The following is a summary of how a bill becomes a law: Filing/Calendaring for First Reading A bill is filed in the Office of the Secretary where it is given a corresponding number and calendared for First Reading. First Reading Its title, bill number, and authors name are read on the floor, after whic h it is referred to the proper committee. Committee Hearings/Report Committee conducts hearings and consultation meetings. It then either approves the proposed bill without an amendment, approves it with changes, or recommends substitution or consolidation with similar bills filed. Calendaring for Second Reading The Committee Report with its approved bill version is submitted to the Committee on Rules for calendaring for Second Reading. Second Reading Bill author delivers sponsorship speech on the floor. Senators engage in debate, interpellation, turno en contra, and rebuttal to highlight the pros and cons of the bill. A period

of amendments incorporates necessary changes in the bill proposed by the committee or introduced by the Senators themselves on the floor. Voting on Second Reading Senators vote on the second reading version of the bill. If approved, the bill is calendared for third reading. Voting on Third Reading Printed copies of the bills final version are distributed to the Senators. This time, only the title of the bill is read on the floor. Nominal voting is held. If passed, the approved Senate bill is referred to the House of Representatives for concurrence. At the House of Representatives The Lower Chamber follows the same procedures (First Reading, Second Reading and Third Reading). Back to the Senate If the House-approved version is compatible with that of the Senates, the final versions enrolled form is printed. If there are certain differences, a Bicameral Conference Committee is called to reconcile conflicting provisions of both versions of the Senate and of the House of Representatives. Conference committee submits report on the reconciled version of the bill, duly approved by both chambers. The Senate prints the reconciled version in its enrolled form. Submission to Malacaang Final enrolled form is submitted to Malacaang. The President either signs it into law, or vetoes and sends it back to the Senate with veto message.

Sources: http://www.chanrobles.com/legal11impeachmentrules.htm http://www.gov.ph/aboutphil/a11.asp http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impeachment http://www.senate.gov.ph/about/legpro.asp