ARTICLE VI. LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT Section 5.

(1) The House of Representatives shall be composed of

not more than 250 members,
Section 1. The legislative power shall be vested in the Congress of unless otherwise fixed by law,
the Philippines which shall consist of who shall be elected from legislative district
a Senate and apportioned among respective provinces
a House of Representative cities and
EXCEPT to the extent reserved to the people by the provision on Metropolitan
Initiative and referendum Manila area
in accordance with their respective inhabitants and
Section 2. The Senate shall be composed of 24 senators who shall be on the basis of a uniform and progressive ratio
elected AT LARGE by AND those who shall be elected from registered
the qualified voters of the Philippines, national
as may be provided by law. regional or
sectoral parties or organization
Section 3. No person shall be a Senator unless he is
a natural-born citizen of the Philippines and on the day of (2) The party-list representatives shall constitute 20% of the total no.
election of representatives
atleast 35 years of age, Including those under the party-list.
able to read and to write, For 3 consecutive terms after the ratification of this Constitution,
a registered voter, ½ of the seats allocated to party-list representatives
and a citizen of the Philippines for not less than 2 years shall be filled,
immediately preceding the day of election as provided by law,
by selection or election from the labor,
Section 4. The term of office of Senators shall be 6 years peasant,
and shall commence at noon on the 30th day of June urban,
next following their election poor,
indigineous cultural communities,
No Senator shall serve for more than 2 consecutive terms. women,
Voluntary renunciation in the office for any length youth, and
shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of such other sectors
his service as may be provided by law, EXCEPT the religious sector
for the full term for which he was elected
(3) Each legislative district shall comprise,
as far as practicable,
contiguous,
compact, and
adjacent territory.
Each city with a population of atleast 200,000, or
Each province, shall have atleast 1 representative
(4) Within 3 years following the return of every census,
the Congress shall make a reapportionment of legislative districts
based on the standards provided in this section
Section 6. No person shall be a Member of the House of
Representatives unless,
he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines,
and on the day of election,
is at least 25 years of age, and
except to party-list representative,
a registered voter of the legislative district in which he shall
be elected and
a resident thereof
immediately preceding the day of the election
Section 7. The Member of the House of Representatives shall serve
for a period of 3 years, which shall begin,
unless otherwise provided by law,
at noon on the 30th day of June,
next following the day of the election.
No Member shall serve for more than 3 consecutive terms.
Voluntary renunciation in the office
for any length, shall not be considered as an interruption
for the continuity of his service, for the full term for which
he was elected
Section 8. Unless otherwise provided by law,
the regular election of the Senators and the Members of the
House of Representative
shall be held on the second Monday of May
Section 9. In case of vacancy in the Senate or in the House of
Representatives,
a special election may be called to fill such vacancy,
in the manner prescribed by law,
BUT the Senator or the Member thus elected shall only serve for the
unexpired term.
Section 10. The salaries of the Senators and the Members of the
House of Representatives shall be determined by law.
No compensation shall be increased
until after the expiration of the full term of the
Senators and Members of the House of Representatives
approving such increase.
Section 11. A Senator or Members of the House of Representatives
shall,
In all offenses punishable by not more then 6 years
imprisonment,
be questioned nor be held liable in any other place
for any speech or debate
in Congress or in any committee thereof.
Section 12. All Senators and Members of the House of
Representatives shall,
upon assumption of office
make a full disclosure of
ALL financial and business interests.
They shall notify the office concerned or any government owned or controlled
of the potential conflict of interest corporation or their subsidiaries
upon the filing of the proposed legislation during his term.
of which they are authors. He shall not intervene in any matter
on any office of the Government
Section 13. No Senator or Members of the House of Representatives for his pecuniary benefit or
shall be appointed to any other office or employment in which he may be called to act on account of his office.
the Government, or
in any subdivision, Section 15. The Congress shall convene once every year,
agency, or unless a different date is fixed by law,
instrumentalities thereof, and shall continue to be in session for such number of days
including government owned or controlled corporation or as it may determine
their subsidiaries until 30 days before the opening of the next regular session
during his term without forfeiting his seat. exclusive Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays.
Neither shall he be appointed to any office The President may call special election at any time.
which may have been created or
the emoluments thereof increased Section 16. (1) The Senate shall elect its President and the House of
during the term for which he was elected, Representatives of its Speaker,
by a majority of vote of all its respective members.
Section 14. No Senator or Member of the House of Representative Each house shall choose such other officers as it may deem
shall appear as counsel necessary.
to any court of justice or
in any Electoral Tribunals, (2) A majority of each House shall constitute a quorum to do a
quasi-judicial or business,
administrative bodies. a small number may adjourn from day to day
Neither shall he, directly or indirectly, and may compel the attendance of the absent members
be financially interested in such manner,
in any contract or under such penalties,
franchise, or as such House may provide.
special privilege
granted by the Government, (3) Each House may determine the rule of its proceedings,
or any subdivision, punish such members for disorderly behaviour,
agency, or with the concurrence of majority of 2/3 of all its
instrumentalities thereof Members,
 may suspend or expel a member. on the basis of proportional representation,
A penalty of suspension, from political parties and
when imposed, parties or organizations registered under party-list
Shall not exceed 60 days. system represented therein.
The Senior Justice in the Electoral Tribunal shall be its Chairman.
(4) Each House shall keep a journal of its proceedings,
and from time to time shall publish the same, Section 18. There shall be a Commission on Appointments
excepting such parts, consisting of
in its judgment, President of the Senate, as ex-officio chairman,
may affect national security; 12 Senators, and
the yeas and nays shall, upon the request of 1/5 of the Members 12 Members of the House of Representatives,
present, who shall be elected on the basis of proportional
on any question, representation,
be entered in the Journal from the political parties and
Each House shall also keep a Record of its proceedings. parties or organizations registered under party-list
system represented therein.
(5) Neither of the two Houses shall, The Chairman shall not vote, EXCEPT on a case of a tie.
without the consent of the other, The Commission shall act on all appointments submitted to it
adjourn for more than 3 days Within 30 session days of the Congress from their
nor to any other place, submission.
than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting The Commission shall rule by a majority of vote of all the Members.

Section 17. The Senate and the House of Representatives shall each
have an Electoral Tribunal,
which shall be the sole judge of all election contests,
returns, and
qualifications
of their respective members.
Each Electoral Tribunal shall composed of 9 members,
3 of whom shall be elected from the members of the
Supreme Court who shall be designated by the
Chief Justice
and the remaining 6 shall be Members of the Senate or the
House of Representatives, as the case may be,
Section 19. The Electoral Tribunals and the Commission on
Appointments shall be constituted
within 30 days while the Congress is in session
or upon the call of its Chairman or
majority of all its members
to discharge such powers and functions as herein conferred upon it.
Section 20. The records and books of account of Congress shall be
preserved and open to public in accordance with the law,
and such records shall be audited
by the Commission on Audit
who shall publish annually an itemized list
 of all amount paid to for a limited period
and expenses incurred for all and subject to such restrictions as the
each Member. Congress may prescribed
to exercise powers necessary and proper to carry
Section 21. The Senate or the House of Representatives or any of its out a declared national policy.
respective members Unless sooner withdrawn by a resolution of the Congress,
may conduct inquiries in aid of legislation such powers shall cease upon the next adjournment
in accordance with its duly published rules of procedure. thereof.
The rights of the person appearing in
or affected by such inquiries shall be respected. Section 24. All appropriations,
revenue,
Section 22. The heads of department upon their own initiative, tariff bills,
with the consent of the President bills authorizing increase in public debt,
or upon the request of the either House, bills of local application,
as the rules of each House shall provide, and private bills
may appear before or be heard on any matter pertaining to their shall originate exclusively in the House of Representatives
departments. BUT the Senate may propose or concur with amendments.
Written questions shall be submitted atleast 3 days before
such scheduled appearance. Section 25. (1) The Congress may not increase any appropriations
Interpellations shall not be limited to written questions recommended by the President for the operation of the Government
but may cover matters related thereto. as specified in the budget.
When the security of the State or the public interest so requires, The form,
or the President states so in writing, content,
the appearance shall be conducted in executive and manner
session. of making the budget shall be prescribed by law.

Section 23. (1) The Congress by a vote of 2/3 of all the members, (2) No provision or enactment shall embraced in the general
in joint session assembled, appropriations,
voting separately, UNLESS, it relates to some particular appropriations therein.
shall have the sole power to declare the existence of a state of war. Any such provision or enactment
shall be limited in its operation
(2) In times of war or national emergency, to the appropriation to which it relates.
the Congress may by law,
authorize the President,
(3) The procedure in approving the appropriation for Congress
shall strictly follow
the procedure in approving the appropriation for other
departments or agencies.
(4) The special appropriations shall specify the purpose to which it is
intended
and shall be supported by funds actually available
as certified by the National Treasurer
OR to be raised by a corresponding revenue proposal
therein.
(5) No law shall be passed authorizing any transfer of appropriations;
however, the President,
the President of the Senate,
the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and
the heads of Constitutional bodies,
may by law, authorized to augment any items
of their respective offices,
from the savings in other item of their respective
appropriations
(6) Discretionary funds appropriated for particular public officials
shall be disbursed only for public purpose
and shall be supported by appropriate vouchers
subject to such guidelines
as may be prescribed by law.
(7) If by the end of fiscal year,
the Congress shall have failed to pass a general
appropriations bill for the ensuing fiscal year,
the general appropriations law for the preceding fiscal year
shall be deemed re-enacted,
and shall remain in force and effect,
UNTIL such general appropriations bill shall be passed by Congress.
Section 26. (1) Every bill passed by Congress shall embrace one
subject which shall be expressed in the title thereof.
(2) No bill passed by the either House shall become a law,
UNLESS it has passed 3 readings on separate days,
and printed copies thereof shall be distributed to its
Members at least 3 days before the passage,
UNLESS, the President certifies to the necessity of its
Immediate enactment by reason of public calamity
or emergency.
Upon the last reading of the bill,
no amendment thereto shall be allowed,
and the vote thereon shall be taken immediately thereafter,
and the yeas and nays shall be entered in the Journal.
Section 27. Every bill passed by the Congress shall, before it
becomes a law,
be presented to the President;
if he approves it, he shall sign it,
OTHERWISE, he shall veto it and return the same with
objections to the House where it originated,
and such House shall enter the objections at large
and shall reconsider it.
If after such reconsideration, 2/3 of its Members approve the bill,
it shall be sent to the other House
together with objections and shall reconsider it
if it approve by 2/3 of all the Members of such House,
it shall become a law.
The vote shall be determined by yeas and nays
and the names voting for or against shall be entered in the
Journal.
The President shall communicate the vetoed bill
 within 30 days from its receipt, (4) No law granting such taxation shall be passed
OTHERWISE, it shall become a law as if he had signed it. without the concurrence of majority of all the Members of the
(2) The President shall have the power to veto any item or items in Congress
an appropriation
revenue, Section 29. (1) No money shall be made out of a Treasury
or tariff bills, EXCEPT in pursuance of appropriation made by law.
BUT the veto shall not affect any item or items which he does not
object. (2) No public money or property shall be applied,
appropriated,
Section 28. (1) The rule on taxation shall be uniform and equitable. paid,
The Congress shall evolve a progressive system of taxation. or employed
directly or indirectly for the use,
(2) The Congress may by law, benefit,
authorize the President to fix, or support of any sect,
within the limits and church,
subject to such restrictions and limitations as it may denomination,
impose, taxes, sectarian institution,
import or export quotas, or system of religion of any
tonnage and priest,
wharfage duties preacher,
or other duties or imposts minister,
within the framework of national development or other religious teacher,
program of the Government. or dignitary, as such,
(3) Charitable institutions, EXCEPT, when such priest, preacher, minister or dignitary is
churches and parsonages, or assigned to any armed forces,
other convents appurtenant thereto, penal institution,
mosques, or government orphanage or leprosarium.
all lands,
buildings, (3) All money collected on a tax levied for special purpose
and improvements shall be treated as special fund and paid out for such purpose only.
used actually, directly, and exlusively for If the purpose of the special fund was created has been fulfilled
educational, religious or charitable purpose or abandoned,
shall be exempt from taxation. any excess, if any, shall be transferred to the general funds of the
Government
Section 30. No law shall be passed increasing the appellate
jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
as provided in this Constitution
without its advice and concurrence
Section 31. No law granting a title of royalty
or nobility
shall be enacted.
Section 32. The Congress shall, as early as possible,
passed a system of initiative and referendum
and the exception therefrom
whereby the people can directly propose and enact laws,
approve or reject any act, law, or any part thereof
passed by the Congress
or local legislative body
after registration of petition signed by at least 10% of the total
number of registered voter
and which legislative district is represented
by at least 3% of the registered voter
thereof.
ARTICLE VII. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
Section 1. The legislative power shall be vested in the President of
the Philippines.
Section 2. No person may be elected President unless
he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines,
a registered voter,
able to read and write,
at least 40 years of age on the day of election,
and a resident of the Philippines for at least 10 years
immediately preceding such election.
Section 3. There shall be a Vice-President who shall have
the same term of office,
qualification,
and shall be elected,
and in the same manner as the President,
He shall be removed from the office in the same manner as the
President.
The Vice President may be appointed as Member of the Cabinet.
Such appointment requires no confirmation.
Section 4. The President and the Vice-President shall be elected
by a direct vote of people
and shall serve for a term of six years,
which shall begin on the 30th day of June next following the
day of election
and shall end at noon on the same date 6 years thereafter.
The President shall not be eligible for re-election.
No person who has succeeded as President
and shall serve for more than 4 years shall be qualified
for election at the same office at any time.
No Vice-President shall serve for more than 2 consecutive terms.
Voluntary renunciation in the office for any length
shall not be considered as an interruption in the office
for the full term of which he was elected at any time.
Unless otherwise provided by law, the regular election shall be held
on the second Monday of May.
The returns of every election of the President and the Vice-President
duly certified by the board of canvassers of each province
and cities
shall be transmitted to the Senate,
directed to the President of the Senate.
Upon receipt of the certificates of canvass,
the President of the Senate shall,
within 30 days from the day of election,
open all the certificates
in the presence of Senate and the House of Representatives
in joint public session,
and the Congress, upon determination of the authenticity,
and the execution thereof in the manner provided by law,
canvass the votes.
The person having the highest number of votes
shall be proclaimed elected.
In case two or more persons have equal and highest number of votes,
one of them shall be chosen by a majority of vote of
all the Members of the both Houses of the Congress,
voting separately,
The Congress shall promulgate its rules for the canvassing of
certificates.
The Supreme Court sitting en banc shall be the sole judge of all
election contests, returns, and qualification
and shall promulgate its rules for the purpose,
Section 5. Before they enter the execution of their office,
the President,
Vice-President,
and Acting President shall take the oath or affirmation:
“I do solemnly swear the I will faithfully and conscientiously fulfil
my duties as a President of the Philippines,
I will preserve and defend its Constitution,
execute its laws,
do justice to every man,
and consecrate myself to the service of the Nation.
So help me God.
Section 6. The President shall have an official residence.
The salaries of the President and the Vice-President
shall be determined by law and
shall not be decreased during their tenure.
No increase in such compensation shall take effect until after the
expiration of the term of the incumbent approving such increase.
They shall not receive any other emoluments from the Government
or any other source.
Section 7. The President-elect and the Vice-President-elect shall
assume office at the beginning of their terms.
If the President-elect fails to qualify, the Vice-President shall act as
President until the President-elect shall have qualified.
If the President-elect shall not have been chosen, the Vice-President-
elect shall act as President until the President-elect shall have been
chosen and qualified.
If at the beginning of the term,
the President-elect shall have died
or shall have become permanently disabled,
the Vice-President-elect shall become the President
When no President or Vice-President shall have been chosen or
qualified,
or shall have died,
or shall have permanently disabled,
the President of the Senate or in his inability
the Speaker of the House of Representative shall act as a President
until the President or the Vice-President
shall have chosen and disqualified
The Congress shall provide for the manner in which one who is to
act as a President shall be selected,
until a President or a Vice-President shall have chosen and qualified
in case of death
permanent inability,
disability,
for the officials mentioned in the preceding paragraph
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 for the
unexpired term.
In case of death,
permanent disabiltity,
removal from office
or resignation
of both the President and the Vice-President,
the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of
Representative shall act as a President
until the President or a Vice-President
shall have been voted and qualified.
The Congress shall, by law, provide for the manner to which a
President shall be elected in case of death, permanent disability or
resignation of the Acting President.
He shall serve until the President or the Vice-President
shall have been elected and qualified
he shall be subject to the same restriction and
disqualification as the Acting President.
Section 9. Upon vacancy in the Office of the Vice-President during
the term for which he was elected,
the President shall appoint from the Members of the Senate
or the House of Representatives
and shall assume office upon confirmation
by a majority of vote of all the
Members of both Houses of the Congress,
voting separately.
Section 10. The Congress shall, at 10:00 in the morning on the 3rd
day of vacancy in the Offices of President and the Vice-President
convene,
in accordance with its rules without need of call,
and within seven days shall enact a law calling for special election
not earlier than 45 days but not later than 60 days
from the time of such call.
Such bill shall be deemed to certified
under paragraph 2, Section 26, Article 6 of the Constitution
and shall become a law
upon approval on the 3rd reading by Congress.
Appropriations shall be charged against any current appropriation
and shall be exempted from the requirements under
paragraph 5, Section 25, Article 6 of the Constitution
The convening of the Congress cannot be suspended
or the special election be postponed.
No special election shall be held if the vacancy occurs
within 18 months before the next election.
Section 11. Whenever the President transmits to the President of the
Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives
a written declaration that he is unable to discharge such
powers and functions
and until he transmit the contrary to the same,
the Vice-President shall discharge such powers and duties as the
Acting President.
Whenever the majority of all the members Cabinet transmits to the
President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of
Representatives
that the President is unable to discharge his powers and
functions,
the Vice-President shall immediately assume office
and discharge such powers and duties
as the Acting Vice-President
Thereafter, the President shall transmit to the
President of the Senate or
the Speaker of the House of Representatives
his written declaration that no inability exists.
he shall reassume office and
discharge such powers and duties
Meanwhile, if the majority of the members of the Cabinet transmit
within 5 days
to the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of
Representative
their written declaration that the President
is unable to discharge such powers and duties of his office
the Congress shall decide.
For such purpose, the Congress shall convene
if it is not in session,
within 48 hours,
according to its rules and without need of a call.
The Congress, within 10 days after the receipt of the written
declaration
or within 12 days if not in session
after it is required to assemble
shall decide by a majority of vote of 2/3 of all the Members of the
both Houses, voting separately,
that the President is unable to discharge the powers and
duties of his office,
the Vice-President shall act as a President.
Otherwise, the President shall continue exercising the powers and
duties of his office.
Section 12. In case of serious illness of the President,
the public shall be informed about the state of his health.
The members of the Cabinet in charge to national security and
foreign relations and
the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
shall not be denied access to the President during such
illness.
Section 13. The President, Vice-President, Members of the Cabinet
including their deputies and assistants, shall not,
unless otherwise provided in this Constitution,
hold any other office or employment during their tenure.
They shall not, during their tenure, directly or indirectly,
practice any profession,
participate in any business
or be financially interested
in any contract with,
franchise,
or special privilege granted by the Government
or its subdivision,
agency,
or instrumentalities thereof
 including gocc and their subsidiaries.
They shall strictly avoid conflict of interest in the conduct of their
office.
The spouse of the President and his relative by consanguinity or
affinity within 4th civil degree
shall not, during his tenure,
be appointed as members of the Constitutional Commission,
the Office of the Ombudsman,
Secretaries,
Undersecretaries,
or as heads of bureaus or offices,
including government owned or controlled corporations and
their subsidiaries.
Section 14. Appointments extended by the Acting President shall
remain effective
unless revoked by the President withing 90 days
upon his assumption or reassumption in the office,
Section 15. Two-months immediately before the next presidential
election and up to the end of his term,
the President or the Acting President shall not make
appointments
EXCEPT, temporary appointments to the executive position
when the continued vacancies therein
will prejudice public service
or endanger public safety.
Section 15. The President shall nominate,
with the consent of the Commission on Appointments,
heads of executive department,
ambassadors,
and other public ministers and consuls
or armed forces from the rank of colonel or naval captain
or other officers vested in him by this Constitution.
He shall also appoint other officers not provided for by law
and other officers he may be authorized by law to appoint.
The Congress may, by law, authorize the appointment of officers
lower in rank in President alone,
or in court,
or in the heads of agencies,
commissions,
or boards.
The President shall have the power to make appointments during the
recess of the Congress
such appointments shall be effective
until disapproval of the Commission on Appointments
or until the next adjournment of the Congress.
Section 17. The President shall have the power over executive
department, bureaus, or offices.
He shall make sure that the laws are faithfully executed.
Section 18. The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines,
and whenever it becomes necessary,
he may call out such armed forces
to prevent or suppress lawless violence,
invasion,
or rebellion.
In case of invasion or rebellion,
he may for a period not exceeding 60 days
suspend the writ of habeas corpus,
or place the Philippines or any part thereof under martial
law.
Within 48 hours following the proclamation of martial law
 or suspension of the writ of habeas corpus
the President shall submit in personal or in writing
a report to the Congress.
The Congress, by a vote of at least majority of all its Members
in special or regular session,
voting jointly,
may revoke such proclamation or suspension,
such revocation shall not be set aside by the President.
Upon the initiative of the President,
the Congress may,
in the same manner,
extend such proclamation or revocation
in the period determined by Congress
when invasion or rebellion shall persist
and the public safety so requires it.
The Congress shall, if not in session,
convene within 48 hours following such proclamation or
suspension,
in accordance with its rules, without need of a call.
The Supreme Court may review,
in an appropriate proceeding
filed by any citizen
the sufficient factual basis of the proclamation of martial law
or the suspension of the privilege of the writ
or the extension thereof,
and shall promulgate its decision within 30 days after its filing,
A state of martial law does not suspend the operation of the
Constitution,
nor supplant the functioning of the civil courts or legislative
assemblies,
nor authorize conferment of jurisdiction on military courts
and agencies over civilians where the civil courts are able to
function
nor automatically suspend the privilege of the writ,
The suspension of the privilege of the writ shall only apply to
person judicially charged with rebellion
or directly connected to or inherent on invasion.
During the suspension of the privilege of the writ,
the person detained or suspended shall be judicially
within 3 days,
otherwise he shall be detained.
Section 19. Except in cases of impeachment,
or as otherwise provided in this Constitution,
the President may grant reprieves,
commutation,
or pardon,
and may also remit fines and forfeitures
after conviction by final judgment.
He may also grant amnesty with the concurrence of majority of all
the members of Congress.
Section 20. The President may contract or guaranteed foreign loans
on behalf of the Republic of the Philippines,
with the prior concurrence with the Monetary Board,
and subject to such limitations as may be provided by law.
The Monetary Board shall, submit a complete report to the Congress,
every end of the quarter of the calendar year,
of its decisions and applications
for contract and guaranteed loans
by the Government or government owned or
controlled corporations
 which would have the effect of increasing the
foreign debts and containing other contracts as may be
provided by law.
Section 21. No treaty or international agreement shall be valid and
effective,
UNLESS concurred in by at least 2/3 of the members of the
Congress.
Section 22. The President shall submit to the Congress,
within 30 days from the opening of its regular session,
as basis of the general appropriations bill
a budget of expenditures,
sources of financing,
and receipts of proposed and existing revenue
Section 23. The President may address the Congress at the opening
of its regular session.
He may also appear before it any other time.
ARTICLE VIII. JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT
Section 1. Judicial power shall be vested in one Supreme Court
and such other lower courts as may be provided by law.
Judicial power includes the duty of the court of justice
to settle actual controversies
involving rights which are legally demandable and
enforceable
and to determine whether or not there has been grave abuse
of discretion amounting to lack or excess jurisdiction
on any branch or instrumentalities of the Government.
Section 2. The President shall have the power to define, prescribe
and apportion jurisdiction to the lower courts
but may not deprive the Supreme Court of power over the
cases mentioned in Section 5 hereof.
No law shall be passed reorganizing the jurisdiction of the Judiciary
which undermines the security of tenure of its Members.
Section 3. The Judiciary shall enjoy fiscal autonomy.
Appropriations may not be reduced
less than the amount appropriated for the previous year
and after approval
shall be automatically and regularly released.
Section 4. (1) The Supreme Court shall be composed of a Chief
Justice and 14 Associate Justices.
It may sit en banc
or in division of 3, 5 or 7 members.
Any vacancy shall be filled within 90 days from the occurrence
thereof.
(2) Any case involving the constitutionality of treaty,
international
or executive agreement
or a law,
or which required to be heard by the Supreme Court en banc,
or which under the Rules of Court shall be heard by the Supreme
Court en banc,
involving cases which involves the constitutionality,
application,
or operation
of presidential decrees,
proclamation,
orders,
 instructions, a. All cases in which the constitutionality or validity of any
ordinances treaty,
and other matters, international or executive agreements,
shall be decided with the concurrence of a majority of the Members law,
who actually took part in the deliberations of the issues in the case or presidential decrees,
and voted thereon. proclamations,
orders,
(3) Cases or matters heard by a division shall be decided or resolved instruction,
in concurrence of a majority of vote of members who actually took ordinances,
part in the deliberations in the issues of the case and voted thereon or regulation is in question.
and in no case, b. All cases involving the legality of any tax,
without the concurrence of 3 of such members. impost,
In case that the required number of votes does not reach the majority, assessment,
the case shall be decided en banc: or toll,
Provided that no doctrine or any penalty related
or principle of law laid down thereto.
by the court in the decision rendered en banc or in a division c. All cases where the jurisdiction of the lower courts is in
shall not be modified or reversed question.
EXCEPT by the court sitting en banc d. All cases in which the penalty imposed is reclusion perpetua
or higher.
Section 5. The Supreme Court shall have the following powers: e. All cases in which there is only an error or question of law.
(1) Exercise original jurisdictions over the cases affecting the
ambassadors, (3) Assign temporarily judges of lower courts to other stations
and other public ministers and consuls as the public interest may require.
and petitions over certiorari Such designation shall not exceed 6 months
prohibition, Without the consent of the judge concerned.
mandamus,
quo warranto, (4) Order a change of venue or change of trial
and habeas corpus to avoid miscarriage of justice

(2) Review, revise, reverse, modify or affirm on petition or an (5) Promulgate rules regarding
appeal for certiorari as the law protection and enforcement of constitutional rights,
or the Rules of Court may provide, pleading, practice, and procedure in all course,
final judgment and orders of lower courts in: admission to the practice of law,
 the Integrated Bar,
and legal assistance to the underprivileged.
Such rules shall
provide for simplified and inexpensive for the speedy
disposition of cases
be uniform for all the courts of the same rank
not diminish, increase or modify substantive rights
Rules of procedure promulgated by special courts or
quasi-judicial bodies
shall remain effective unless disapproved by the Supreme
Court.

(6) Appoint all officials and employees in accordance with the

Civil Service Law.