SANDOVAL, Aaron B.

POLIGOV

LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT
Qualifications (Senators)

Natural-born citizens of the Philippines

At least 35 years of age on the day of the election
Able to read and write
Registered voter
Resident of the Philippines for not less than 2 years immediately preceding
the day of the election

Qualifications (House of Representatives - District Representatives)

Natural-born citizen of the Philippines

At least 25 years of age on the day of the election
Able to read and write
Registered voter in the district in which he shall be elected
Resident thereof for a period of not less than 1 year immediately preceding
the day of the election

Qualifications (House of Representatives - Party-list Representatives)

Natural-born citizen of the Philippines

At least 25 years of age on the day of the election and in case of the youth
sector, he must at least be 25 but not more than 30 on the day of the
election
Able to read and write
Registered voter
Resident thereof for a period of not less than 1 year immediately preceding
the day of the election
Bona fide member of the party or organization which he seeks to represent
for at least 90 days preceding the day of the election

Term of Office (Senators)

6 years commencing at noon on the 30th day of June next following their
election

Term of Office (House of Representatives)

3 years commencing at noon on the 30th day of June next following their
election

Privileges (Senators and Members of the House of Representatives)

Privilege from arrest in all offenses punishable by not more than 6 years
imprisonment while the Congress is in session
Privilege of speech and debate - no member shall be questioned nor be held
liable in any other place for any speech or debate in the Congress or any
commitment thereof

Prohibition

Incompatible Office - no senator or member of the house of representatives

may hold any other office or employment in the Government, or any
subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof including GOCCs or their
subsidiaries during his term without forfeiting his seat
Forbidden Office - neither shall he be appointed to any office which may have
been created or the emoluments thereof increased during the term for which
he was elected
He shall not personally appear as counsel before any court of justice or
before the electoral tribunal or quasi-judicial and other administrative bodies
He shall not directly or indirectly be interested financially in any contract
with, or in any franchise or special privilege by the government, or any
subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including any GOCC, or its
subsidiary during his term of office
He shall not intervene in any matter before any office of the government of
his pecuniary benefit or where he may be called upon to act on account of his
office.

Powers/Functions (Senators and Members of the House of

Representatives)
Legislative

General plenary power

Specific power of appropriation
Taxation and Expropriation
Legislative investigations
Question Hour

Non-legislative

Canvass presidential election

Declare the existence of a state of war
Delegation of emergency powers

Call a special election for president and vice-president

Propose constitutional amendments - constituent power
Confirm certain appointments
Impeach
Decide the disability of the president in cases where majority of the cabinet
dispute his assertion that he is able to discharge his duties
Revoke or extend proclamation of suspension of privilege of writ habeas
corpus or declaration of martial law
Power with regard to utilization of natural resources

Definitions of words and terms

Quorum is such a number of the membership of an assembly or collective

body as is competent to transact its business.
Rules of procedure are the rules made by any legislative body to regulate the
mode and manner of conducting its business.
legislative journal is defined as the official record of what is done and passed
in a legislative assembly.
appropriations bills is one the primary and specific aim of which is to make
appropriations of money from the public treasury.
appropriation is an authorization made by law or other legislative enactment,
directing payment out of government funds under specified conditions and
for specified purposes.
Revenue bill is one of the primary and specific purpose of which is to raise
revenue.
Tariff bill as used in the constitutions, it has reference to one imposing
customs duties for revenue purposes.
Bill authorizing increase in public debt one which creates public indebtedness
such a bill providing for the issuance of bonds and other forms of obligations.
Bill of local application one affecting purely local or municipal concerns like
one creating a city or municipality or changing its name.
Private bill one affecting purely private interest, such as one granting a
franchise to a person or corporation, or compensation to a person for
damages suffered by him for which the government considers itself liable.
Budget is the financial program of the national government for a designated
calendar year, consisting of statements of estimated receipts revenues and
expenditures for the calendar on which it is intended to be effective.
Rider is a provision or enactment inserted in the general appropriations bill
which does not relate to some particular appropriation therein.
Substantive refer to the subject matter of legislation
Bill is a draft of a law submitted to the consideration of a legislative body of
its adoption.

Statute is the written will of the legislature as an organized body expressed

according to the form necessary to constitute it into a law of the state.
Veto it is the power vested in the president to disapproved acts passed by
congress.
Resolution has been defined as a formal expression of opinion, will, or intent
by an official body or assembled group.
Initiative it is the reserved power of the people to directly propose and enact
laws at polls called for the purpose independently of Congress.
Referendum it is the process by which any act or law or part thereof passed
by Congress or by a local legislative body submitted to the people for their
approval and disapproval.