ARTICLE VI ARTICLE VIII ARTICLE VI

Legislative Department
The National Assembly Legislative Department

SEC 1.
Section 1. Section 1.
The legislative power shall be
vested in the Congress of the The Legislative power shall be The Legislative power shall be

Philippines which shall consist of a vested in a National Assembly. vested in a Congress of the

Senate and a House of Philippines, which shall consist of

Representatives, except to the a Senate and a House of

Section 2. Representatives.
extent reserved to the people by
the provision on initiative and The National Assembly shall be

referendum. composed of as many Members

Section 2.
as may be provided by law to be

SEC. 2. appointed among the provinces, The Senate shall be composed of

The Senate shall be composed of representative districts, and cities twenty-four Senators who shall be
twenty-four Senators who shall be in accordance with the number of chosen at large by the qualified
elected at large by the qualified their respective inhabitants and on electors of the Philippines, as may

voters of the Philippines, as may the basis of a uniform and be provided by law.

be provided by law. progressive ratio. Each district

shall comprise, as far as

SEC. 3. practicable, contiguous, compact, Section 3.

No person shall be a Senator and adjacent territory. The term of office of Senators
unless he is a natural-born citizen Representative districts or shall be six years and shall begin
of the Philippines, and, on the day provinces already created or on the thirtieth day of December
of the election, is at least thirty-five existing at the time of the next following their election. The
years of age, able to read and ratification of this Constitution shall first Senators elected under this

write, a registered voter, and a
resident of the Philippines for not
less than two years immediately
preceding the day of the election.
SEC. 4.
The term of office of the Senators qualified electors in their
shall be six years and shall
commence, unless otherwise
have at least one Member each.
Section 3.
(1) The Members of the National
Assembly shall be elected by the
respective districts for a term of six
years which shall begin, unless
Constitution shall, in the manner
provided by law, be divided equally
into three groups, the Senators of
the first group, to serve for a term
of six years; those of the second
group, for four years; and those of
the third group, for two years.
provided by law, at noon on the otherwise provided by law, at noon Section 4.
thirtieth day of June next following on the thirtieth day of June next
No person shall be a Senator
their election. No Senator shall following their election.
unless he be a natural born citizen
serve for more than two
of the Philippines and, at the time
consecutive terms. Voluntary
of his election, is at least thirty-five
renunciation of the office for any (2) In case the National Assembly
years of age, a qualified elector,
length of time shall not be is dissolved, the newly elected
and a resident of the Philippines
considered as an interruption in Members shall serve the
for not less than two years
the continuity of his service for the unexpired portion of the term from
immediately prior to his election.
full term for which he was elected. the time the Prime Minister
convenes the Assembly, which

SEC. 5. shall not be later than thirty days

(1) The House of Representatives immediately following the
elections.
shall be composed of not more
than two hundred and fifty
members, unless otherwise fixed
by law, who shall be elected from
legislative districts apportioned
among the provinces, cities, and
the Metropolitan Manila area in
accordance with the number of
their respective inhabitants, and
on the basis of a uniform and
progressive ratio, and those who, write, a registered voter in the
as provided by law, shall be
elected through a party-list system elected, and a resident thereon for
of registered national, regional,
and sectoral parties or
organizations.
(2) The party-list representatives
shall constitute twenty per centum
of the total number of
representatives including those
under the party list. For three
Section 4.
No person shall be a Member of
the National Assembly unless he
is a natural-born citizen of the
Philippines and, on the day of the
election, is at least twenty-five
years of age, able to read and
district in which he shall be
a period of not less than one year
immediately preceding the day of
the election.
Section 5.
(1) Unless otherwise provided by
law, the regular election of
Members of the National
Section 5.
The House of Representatives
shall be composed of not more
than one hundred and twenty
Members who shall be
apportioned among the several
provinces as nearly as may be
accorded to the number of their
respective inhabitants, but each
province shall have at least one
Member. The Congress shall by
law make an apportionment within
three years after the return of
every enumeration, and not
otherwise. Until such
apportionment shall have been
made, the House of
Representatives shall have the
same number of Members as that
fixed by law for the National
Assembly, who shall be elected by
the qualified electors from the
present Assembly districts. Each
representative district shall
consecutive terms after the
ratification of this Constitution,
one-half of the seats allocated to
party-list representatives shall be
filled, as provided by law, by
selection or election from the
labor, peasant, urban poor,
indigenous cultural communities,
women, youth, and such other
sectors as may be provided by
law, except the religious sector.
(3) Each legislative district shall
comprise, as far as practicable,
contiguous, compact, and adjacent
territory. Each city with a
population of at least two hundred
fifty thousand, or each province,
shall have at least one
representative.
(4) Within three years following the its next regular session, exclusive
return of every census, the
Congress shall make a
reappointment of legislative
districts based on the standards
provided in this section.
SEC. 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 the election, is at least twenty-
five years of age, able to read and
Assembly shall be held on the comprise, as far as practicable,
second Monday of May every six contiguous and compact territory.
years thereafter.
Section 6.
(2) In case a vacancy arises in the
The term of office of the Members
National Assembly one year or
of the House of Representatives
more before a regular election, the
shall be four years and shall begin
Commission on Elections shall call
on the thirtieth day of December
a special election to be held within
next following their election.
sixty days after the vacancy
occurs.
Section 7.
Section 6. No person shall be a Member of
the House of Representatives
The National Assembly shall
unless he be a natural born citizen
convene once every year on the
of the Philippines, and, at the time
fourth Monday of July for its
of his election, is at least twenty-
regular session, unless a different
five years of age, a qualified
date is fixed by law, and shall
elector, and a resident of the
continue to be in session until
province in which he is chosen for
thirty days before the opening of
not less than one year immediately
prior to his election.
of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal
holidays. It may recess for periods
not exceeding thirty days each, Section 8.
and not more than ninety days
(1) Elections for Senators and
during the year. However, it may
Members of the House of
be called to session at any time by
Representatives shall be held in
the Prime Minister to consider
the manner and on the dates fixed
such subjects or legislation as he
by law.
may designate.
(2) In case of vacancy in the
Section 7.
Senate or in the House of
write, and, except the party-list (1) The National Assembly, shall, Representatives, a special election
representatives, a registered voter by a majority vote of all its may be called to fill such vacancy
in the district in which he shall be Members, elect its Speaker from in the manner prescribed by law,
elected, and a resident thereof for the Members thereof. It shall but the Senator or Member of the
a period of not less than one year choose such other officers as it House of Representatives thus
immediately preceding the day of may deem necessary. elected shall serve only for the
the election. unexpired term.
The election of the President and
the Prime Minister shall precede
all other business following the
SEC. 7. Section 9.
election of the Speaker.
The Members of the House of
The Congress shall convene in
Representatives shall be elected
regular session once every year
for a term of three years which
(2) A majority of the National on the fourth Monday of January,
shall begin, unless otherwise
Assembly shall constitute a unless a different date is fixed by
provided by law, at noon on the
quorum to do business, but a law. It may be called in special
thirtieth day of June next following
smaller number may adjourn from session at any time by the
their election.
day to day and may compel the President to consider general
No member of the House of
attendance of absent Members in legislation or only such subjects as
Representatives shall serve for
such manner, and under such he may designate. No special
more than three consecutive
penalties, as the National session shall continue longer than
terms. Voluntary renunciation of
Assembly may provide. thirty days and no regular session
the office for any length of time
longer than one hundred days,
shall not be considered as an
exclusive of Sundays.
interruption in the continuity of his (3) The National Assembly may
service for the full term for which determine the rules of its
he was elected. proceedings, punish its Members
for disorderly behavior, and with
Section 10.
SEC. 8. concurrence of two-thirds of all its
Unless otherwise provided by law, Members, suspend or expel a (1) The Senate shall elect its
the regular election of the Member, but if the penalty is President and the House of
Senators and the Members of the suspension, this shall not exceed Representatives its Speaker.
House of Representatives shall be sixty days.
Each House shall choose such
held on the second Monday of
other officers as may be required.
May.
(4) The National Assembly shall
SEC. 9. keep a Journal of its proceedings, (2) A majority of each House shall
In case of vacancy in the Senate
or in the House of
Representatives, a special election may, in its judgment, affect
may be called to fill such vacancy national security; and the yeas
in the manner prescribed by law,
but the Senator or Member of the the request of one-fifth of the
House of Representatives thus
elected shall serve only for the
unexpired term.
SEC. 10.
The salaries of Senators and
Members of the House of
Representatives shall be
determined by law. No increase in salary of sixty thousand pesos.
said compensation shall take
effect until after the expiration of
the full term of all the Members of salary of seventy-five thousand
the Senate and the House of
Representatives approving such
increase.
SEC. 11.
A Senator or Member of the House
of Representatives shall, in all
offenses punishable by not more
than six years imprisonment, be
privileged from arrest while the
Congress is in session. No
member shall be questioned nor
be held liable in any other place
for any speech or debate in the
Congress or in any committee
thereof.
and from time to time publish the constitute a quorum to do
same, excepting such parts as business, but a smaller number
may adjourn from day to day and
may compel the attendance of
and nays on any question shall, at absent Members in such manner
and under such penalties as such
Members present, be entered in House may provide.
the Journal.
(3) Each House may determine
Section 8. the rule of its proceedings, punish
its Members for disorderly
(1) Unless otherwise provided by
behavior, and, with the
law, each Member of the National
concurrence of two-thirds of all its
Assembly shall receive an annual
Members, expel a Member.
The Speaker of the National
Assembly shall receive an annual
(4) Each House shall keep a
Journal of its proceedings, and
pesos. No increase in salary shall
from time to time publish the
take effect until after the expiration
same, excepting such parts as
of the term of the Members of the
may in its judgment requires
National Assembly approving such
secrecy; and the yeas and nays on
increase.
any question shall, at the request
of one-fifth of the Members
present, be entered into the
(2) The records and books of
Journal.
accounts of the National Assembly
shall be open to the public in
accordance with law, and such
(5) Neither House during the
books shall be audited by the
sessions of the Congress shall,
Commission on Audit which shall
without the consent of the other,
publish annually the itemized
adjourn for more than three days,
expenditures for each Member.
nor to any other place than that in
which the two Houses shall be
sitting.
SEC. 12. Section 9.
All Members of the Senate and the
A Member of the National Section 11.
House of Representatives shall,
Assembly shall, in all offenses
upon assumption of office, make a The Senate and the House of
punishable by not more than six
full disclosure of their financial and Representatives shall have an
years imprisonment, be privileged
business interests. They shall Electoral Tribunal which shall be
from arrest during his attendance
notify the House concerned of a the sole judge of all contests
at its sessions, and in going to and
potential conflict of interest that relating to the election, returns,
returning from the same; but the
may arise from the filing of a and qualifications of their
National Assembly shall surrender
proposed legislation of which they respective Members. Each
the Member involved to the
are authors. Electoral Tribunal shall be
custody of the law within twenty-
composed of nine Members, three
four hours after its adjournment for
SEC. 13. of whom shall be Justices of the
a recess or its next session,
No Senator or a Member of the Supreme Court to be designated
otherwise such privilege shall
House of Representatives may by the Chief Justice, and the
cease upon its failure to do so. A
hold any other office or remaining six shall be Members of
Member shall not be questioned or
employment in the Government, or the Senate or the House of
held liable in any other place for
any subdivision, agency, or Representatives, as the case may
any speech or debate in the
instrumentality thereof, including be, who shall be chosen by each
Assembly or in any committee
government-owned or controlled House, three upon nomination of
thereof.
corporations or their subsidiaries, the party having the largest

during his term without forfeiting number of votes and three of the

his seat. Neither shall he be party having the second largest

Section 10.
appointed to any office which may numbers of votes therein. The
A Member of the National senior Justice in each Electoral
have been created or the
Assembly shall not hold any other Tribunal shall be its Chairman.
emoluments thereof increased
office or employment in the
during the term for which he was
government, or any subdivision,
elected.
agency, or instrumentality thereof,
including government-owned or
SEC. 14. Section 12.
controlled corporations during his
No Senator or Member of the There shall be a Commission on
tenure except that of Prime
House of Representatives may
Minister or Member of the Cabinet. Appointments consisting of twelve
personally appear as counsel
Neither shall he be appointed to Senators and twelve Members of
before any court of justice or the House of Representatives,
any civil office which may have
before the Electoral Tribunals, or elected by each House,
been created or the emoluments
quasi-judicial and other thereof increased while he was a respectively, on the basis of
administrative bodies. Neither Member of the National Assembly. proportional representation of the
shall he, directly or indirectly, be political parties therein. The
interested financially in any president of the Senate shall be
contract with, or in any franchise Section 11. the Chairman ex officio of the
or special privilege granted by the No Member of the National Commission, but shall not vote
Government, or any subdivision, Assembly shall appear as counsel except in case of tie.
agency, or instrumentality thereof, before any court inferior to a court
including any government-owned with appellate jurisdiction, before
or controlled corporation, or its any court in any civil case wherein
subsidiary, during his term of the government, or any Section 13.
office. He shall not intervene in subdivision, agency, or
The Electoral Tribunal and the
any matter before any office of the instrumentality thereof is the
Commission on Appointments
Government for his pecuniary adverse party, or before any
shall be constituted within thirty
benefit or where he may be called administrative body. Neither shall
days after the Senate and the
upon to act on account of his he, directly or indirectly, be
House of Representatives shall
office. interested financially in any
have been organized with the
contract with, or in any franchise
election of their President and
SEC. 15. or special privilege granted by, the
Speaker, respectively. The
The Congress shall convene once government, or any subdivision,
Commission on Appointments
every year on the fourth Monday agency, or instrumentality thereof,
shall meet only while the Congress
of July for its regular session, including any government-owned
is in session, at the call of its
unless a different date is fixed by or controlled corporation, during
Chairman or a majority of its
law, and shall continue to be in his term of office. He shall not
Members, to discharge such
session for such number of days intervene in any matter before any
powers and functions as are
as it may determine until thirty office of the government for his
herein conferred upon it.
days before the opening of its next pecuniary benefit.
regular session, exclusive of Section 14.

Saturdays, Sundays, and legal The Senators and the Members of

holidays. The President may call a Section 12. the House of Representatives
special session at any time. (1) There shall be a question hour shall, unless otherwise provided
at least once a month or as often by law, receive an annual
SEC. 16. as the rules of the National compensation of seven thousand
(1) The Senate shall elect its Assembly may provide, which two hundred pesos each, including
President and the House of shall be included in its agenda, per diems and other emoluments
Representatives its Speaker, by a during which the Prime Minister or or allowances and exclusive only
majority vote of all its respective any Minister may be required to of traveling expenses to and from
Members. appear and answer questions and their respective districts in the
Each House shall choose such interpellations by Members of the case of Members of the House of
other officers as it may deem National Assembly. Written Representatives, and to an from
necessary. questions shall be submitted to the their places of residence in the
(2) A majority of each House shall Speaker at least three days before case of Senators, when attending
constitute a quorum to do a scheduled question hour. sessions of the Congress. No
business, but a smaller number Interpellations shall not be limited increase in said compensation
may adjourn from day to day and to the written questions, but may shall take effect until after the
may compel the attendance of cover matters related thereto. The expiration of the full term of all the
absent Members in such manner, agenda shall specify the subjects Members of the Senate and of the
and under such penalties, as such of the question hour. When the House of Representatives
House may provide. security of the State so requires approving such increase. Until
(3) Each House may determine and the Prime Minister so states in otherwise provided by law, the
the rules of its proceedings, punish writing, the question hour shall be President of the Senate and the
its Members for disorderly conducted in executive session. Speaker of the House of
behavior, and, with the Representatives shall each
concurrence of two-thirds of all its receive an annual compensation
Members, suspend or expel a (2) The National Assembly or any of sixteen thousand pesos.
Member. A penalty for suspension, of its committees may conduct
when imposed, shall not exceed inquiries in aid of legislation in
sixty days. accordance with its duly published

(4) Each House shall keep a rules of procedure. The rights of

Journal of its proceedings, and
from time to time publish the
same, excepting such parts as
may, in its judgment, affect
national security; and the yeas and
nays on any question shall, at the (1) The National Assembly may
request of one-fifth of the
members present, be entered in
the Journal.
Each House shall also keep a
Record of its proceedings.
persons appearing in such
inquiries shall be respected.
Section 13.
withdraw its confidence from the
Prime Minister only by electing a
successor by a majority vote of all
its Members. No motion for the
election of such successor shall
Section 15.
The Senators and Members of the
House of Representatives shall in
all cases except treason, felony,
and breach of the peace, be
privileged from arrest during their
attendance at the session of the
Congress, and in going to and
returning from the same; and for
any speech or debate therein, they
shall not be questioned in any
(5) Neither House during the
sessions of the Congress shall,
without the consent of the other,
adjourn for more than three days,
nor to any other place than that in
which the two Houses shall be
be debated and voted upon until other place.
after the lapse of three days from
the submittal of such motion.
Section 16.
(2) The Prime Minister may advise

sitting. the President in writing to dissolve No Senator or Member of the

the National Assembly whenever House of Representatives may

SEC. 17. the need arises for a popular vote hold any other office or
of confidence on fundamental employment in the government
The Senate and the House of
issues, but not on a matter without forfeiting his seat, nor shall
Representatives shall each have
involving his own personal any Senator or Member of the
an Electoral Tribunal which shall
integrity. Whereupon, the House of Representatives, during
be the sole judge of all contests
President shall dissolve the the time for which he was elected,
relating to the election, returns,
and qualifications of their National Assembly not earlier than be appointed to any civil office

respective Members. Each five days nor later than ten days which may have been created or

Electoral Tribunal shall be from his receipt of the advice, and the emoluments whereof shall

composed of nine Members, three call for an election on a date set have been increased while he was
by the Prime Minister which shall a Member of the Congress.
of whom shall be Justices of the
Supreme Court to be designated not be earlier than forty-five days Section 17.

by the Chief Justice, and the nor later than sixty days from the
No Senator or Member of the
remaining six shall be Members of date of such dissolution. However, House of Representatives shall
the Senate or the House of no dissolution of the National
directly or indirectly be financially
Representatives, as the case may Assembly shall take place within interested in any contract with the
be, who shall be chosen on the nine months immediately
government or any subdivision or
basis of proportional preceding a regular election or
instrumentality thereof, or in any
representation from the political within nine months immediately
franchise or special privilege
parties and the parties or following any general election.
granted by the Congress during
organizations registered under the his term of office. He shall not
party-list system represented appear as counsel before the
(3) In case of dissolution of the
therein. The senior Justice in the Electoral Tribunals or before any
National Assembly or the
Electoral Tribunal shall be it
termination of its regular term, the court in any civil case wherein the
Chairman.
incumbent Prime Minister and the Government or any subdivision or
Cabinet shall continue to conduct instrumentality thereof is the
SEC. 18.
the affairs of government until the adverse party, or in any criminal
There shall be a Commission on
Appointments consisting of the
President of the Senate, as ex
officio Chairman, twelve Senators,
and twelve Members of the House
of Representatives, elected by
each House on the basis of
proportional representation from
the political parties or
organizations registered under the concurred in by a majority of all
party-list system represented
therein. The Chairman of the
Commission shall not vote, except
in case of a tie. The Commission
shall act on all appointments
new National Assembly is case wherein an officer or
convoked and a Prime Minister is employee of the government is
elected and has qualified. accused of an offense committed
in relation to his office, or collect
any fee for his appearance in any
Section 14. administrative proceedings; or
(1) Except as otherwise provided accept employment to intervene in
in this Constitution, no treaty shall any cause or matter where he may
be valid and effective unless be called upon to act on account
of his office. No Member of the
the Members of the National Commission on Appointments
Assembly. shall appear as counsel before
any court inferior to a collegiate
court of appellate jurisdiction.
(2) The National Assembly, by a

submitted to it within thirty session vote of two-thirds of all its

days of the Congress from their Members, shall have the sole Section 18.

submission. The Commission shall power to declare the existence of All appropriation, revenue or tariff
rule by a majority vote of all the a state of war. bills, bills authorizing increase of
Members. the public debt, bills of local
application, and private bills, shall
Section 15.
SEC. 19. originate exclusively in the House
The Electoral Tribunals and the In times of war or other national of Representatives, but the Senate
Commission on Appointments emergency, the National Assembly may propose or concur with
shall be constituted within thirty may by law authorize the Prime amendments.
days after the Senate and the Minister, for a limited period and
House of Representatives shall subject to such restrictions as it
have been organized with the may prescribe, to exercise powers Section 19.
election of the President and the necessary and proper to carry out (1) The President shall submit
Speaker. The Commission on a declared national policy. Unless within fifteen days of the opening
Appointments shall meet only sooner withdrawn by resolution of of each regular session of the
while the Congress is in session, the National Assembly, such Congress a budget of receipts and
at the call of its Chairman or a powers shall cease upon its next expenditures, which shall be the
majority of all its Members, to adjournment. basis of the general appropriations
discharge such powers and bill. The Congress may not
functions as are herein conferred Section 16.
upon it.
SEC. 20.
The records and books of
accounts of the Congress shall be
preserved and be open to the
public in accordance with law, and
such books shall be audited by the
Commission on Audit which shall
publish annually an itemized list of
amounts paid to and expenses
incurred for each Member.
SEC. 21.
The Senate or the House of
Representatives or any of its
respective committees may
conduct inquiries in aid of
increase the appropriations
recommended by the President for
(1) The Prime Minister shall submit
the operation of the Government
to the National Assembly within
as specified in the Budget, except
thirty days from the opening of
the appropriations for the
each regular session, as the basis
Congress and the Judicial
of the general appropriations bill, a
Department. The form of the
budget of receipts based on
Budget and the information that it
existing and proposed revenue
should contain shall be prescribed
measures, and of expenditures.
by law.
The form, content, and manner of
preparation of the budget shall be (2) No provision or enactment
prescribed by law. shall be embraced in the general
appropriations bill unless it relates
(2) No provision or enactment
specifically to some particular
shall be embraced in the general
appropriation therein; and any
appropriations bill unless it relates
such provision or enactment shall
specifically to some particular
be limited in its operation to such
appropriation therein. Any such
appropriation.
provision or enactment shall be

legislation in accordance with its limited in its operation to the

duly published rules of procedure. appropriation to which it relates. Section 20.

The rights of persons appearing in
(1) Every bill passed by the
or affected by such inquiries shall
(3) The procedure in approving Congress shall, before it becomes
be respected.
appropriations for the National a law, be presented to the
Assembly shall strictly follow the President. If he approves the
SEC. 22.
procedure for approving same, he shall sign it; but if not, he
The heads of departments may
appropriations for other shall return it with his objections to
upon their own initiative, with the
departments and agencies. the House where it originated,
consent of the President, or upon
which shall enter the objections at
the request of either House, as the
large on its Journal and proceed to
rules of each House shall provide, (4) A special appropriations bill
reconsider it. If, after such
appear before and be heard by shall specify the purpose for which reconsideration, two-thirds of all
such House on any matter it is intended, and shall be the Members of such House shall
pertaining to their departments. supported by funds actually agree to pass the bill, it shall be
Written questions shall be available as certified to by the sent together, with the objections,
submitted to the President of the National Treasurer, or to be raised to the House by which it shall
Senate or the Speaker of the by a corresponding revenue likewise be reconsidered, and if
House of Representatives at least proposal included therein. approved by two-thirds of all the
three days before their scheduled Members of that House, it shall
appearance. Interpellations shall become a law. In all such cases,
not be limited to written questions, (5) No law shall be passed the votes of each House shall be
but may cover matters related authorizing any transfer of determined by yeas and nays, and
thereto. When the security of the appropriations; however, the the names of the Members voting
State or the public interest so Prime Minister, the Speaker, the for and against shall be entered on
requires and the President so Chief Justice of the Supreme its Journal. If any bill shall not be
states in writing, the appearance Court, and the heads of returned by the President as
shall be conducted in executive Constitutional Commissions may herein provided within twenty days
session. by law be authorized to augment (Sundays excepted) after it shall
any item in the general have been presented to him, the
SEC. 23. appropriations law for their same shall become a law in like
(1) The Congress, by a vote of respective offices from saving in manner as if he had signed it,
two-thirds of both Houses in joint other items of their respective unless the Congress by
session assembled, voting appropriations. adjournment prevent its return, in
separately, shall have the sole which case it shall become a law
power to declare the existence of unless vetoed by the President
(6) If, by the end of the fiscal year,
a state of war. within thirty days after
the National Assembly shall have
adjournment.
failed to pass the general
(2) In times of war or other appropriations bill for the ensuing
national emergency, the Congress fiscal year, the general
(2) The President shall have the
may, by law, authorize the appropriations law for the power to veto any particular item
President, for a limited period and preceding fiscal year shall be
or items of an appropriation bill,
subject to such restrictions as it deemed re-enacted and shall but the veto shall not affect the
may prescribe, to exercise powers remain in force and effect until the
item or items to which he does not
necessary and proper to carry out general appropriations bill is
object. When a provision of an
a declared national policy. Unless passed by the National Assembly.
appropriation bill affects one or
sooner withdrawn by resolution of
more items of the same, the
the Congress, such powers shall
President cannot veto the
cease upon the next adjournment Section 17.
provision without at the same time,
thereof. (1) The rule of taxation shall be vetoing the particular item or items
uniform and equitable. The to which it relates. The item or
SEC. 24. National Assembly shall evolve a items objected to shall not take
All appropriation, revenue or tariff progressive system of taxation. effect except in the manner
bills, bills authorizing increase of heretofore provided as to bills
public debt, bills of local returned to the Congress without
application, and private bills shall (2) The National Assembly may by the approval of the President. If
originate exclusively in the House law authorize the Prime Minister to the veto refers to a bill or any item
of Representatives, but the Senate fix within specified limits, and of an appropriation bill which
may propose or concur with subject to such limitations and appropriates a sum in excess of
amendments. restrictions as it may impose, tariff ten per centum of the total amount
rates, import and export quotas, voted in the appropriation bill for

SEC. 25. tonnage and wharfage dues, and the general expenses of the

(1) The Congress may not
increase the appropriations
recommended by the President for
the operation of the Government
as specified in the budget. The
form, content, and manner of
preparation of the budget shall be
prescribed by law.
(2) No provision or enactment
shall be embraced in the general
appropriations bill unless it relates
specifically to some particular
appropriation therein. Any such
provision or enactment shall be
limited in its operation to the
other duties or imposts. Government for the preceding
year, or if it should refer to a bill
authorizing an increase of the
(3) Charitable institutions,
public debt, the same shall not
churches, personages or convents
become a law unless approved by
appurtenant thereto, mosques and
three-fourths of all the Members of
non-profit cemeteries, and all
each House.
lands, buildings and improvements
actually, directly, and exclusively
used for religious or charitable (3) The President shall have the
purposes shall be exempt from power to veto any separate item or
taxation. items in a revenue of tariff bill, and
the item or items shall not take
effect except in the manner
(4) No law granting any tax
provided as to bills vetoed by the
exemption shall be passed without
President.
the concurrence of a majority of all

appropriation to which it relates. the Members of the National

Assembly. Section 21.

(3) The procedure in approving (1) No bill which may be enacted

appropriations for the Congress
shall strictly follow the procedure
for approving appropriations for
other departments or agencies.
Section 18. into law shall embrace more than
one subject which shall be
(1) No money shall be paid out of
expressed in the title of the bill.
the Treasury except in pursuance
of an appropriation made by law.

(4) A special appropriations bill
shall specify the purpose for 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
proposed 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 to any penal institution, or
of Representatives, the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court, and leprosarium.
the Constitutional Commissions
may, by law, be authorized to
augment any item in the general
(2) No bill shall be passed by
either House unless it shall have
(2) No public money or property
been printed and copies thereof in
shall ever be appropriated,
its final form furnished its
applied, paid, or used, directly or
Members at least three calendar
indirectly, for the use, benefit, or
days prior to its passage, except
support of any sect, church,
when the President shall have
denomination, sectarian institution,
certified to the necessity of its
or system of religion or for the use,
immediate enactment. Upon the
benefit, or support of any priest,
last reading of a bill no
preacher, minister, or other
amendment thereof shall be
religious teacher or dignitary as
allowed, and the question upon its
such, except when such priest,
passage shall be taken
preacher, minister, or dignitary is
immediately thereafter, and the
assigned to the armed forces, or
yeas and nays entered on the
Journal.
government orphanage or
Section 22.
Section 19. (1) The rule of taxation shall be

appropriations law for their uniform.

(1) Every bill shall become a law
respective offices from savings in unless it has passed three
other items of their respective readings on separate days, and
(2) The Congress may by law
appropriations. printed copies thereof in its final
authorize the President, subject to
form have been distributed to the
such limitations and restrictions as
(6) Discretionary funds Members three days before its
it may impose, to fix, within
appropriated for particular officials passage, except when the Prime specified limits, tariff rates, import
shall be disbursed only for public Minister certifies to the necessity or export quotas, and tonnage and
purposes to be supported by of its immediate enactment to
wharfage dues.
appropriate vouchers and subject meet a public calamity or
to such guidelines as may be emergency. Upon the last reading

prescribed by law. of a bill, no amendment thereto (3) Cemeteries, churches, and

shall be allowed, and the vote parsonages or convents
thereon shall be taken appurtenant thereto, and all lands,
(7) If, by the end of any fiscal year,
immediately thereafter, and the buildings, and improvements used
the Congress shall have failed to
pass the general appropriations
bill for the ensuing fiscal year, the
general appropriations law for the
preceding fiscal year shall be
yeas and nays entered in the exclusively for religious, charitable,
Journal. or educational purposes shall be
exempt from taxation.
(2) No bill except those of local

deemed reenacted and shall application shall be calendared Section 23.

remain in force and effect until the without the prior recommendation (1) All money collected on any tax
general appropriations bill is of the Cabinet.
levied for a special purpose shall
passed by the Congress. be treated as a special fund and
paid out for such purpose only. If
Section 20.
SEC. 26. the purpose for which a special
(1) Every bill passed by the (1) Every bill passed by the fund was crated has been fulfilled
Congress shall embrace only one national Assembly shall, before it or abandoned, the balance, if any,
subject which shall be expressed becomes a law, be presented to shall be transferred to the general
in the title thereof. the Prime Minister. If he approves funds of the Government.
the same he shall sign it;
otherwise, he shall veto it and
(2) No bill passed by either House
return the same with his objections (2) No money shall be paid out of
shall become a law unless it has
to the National Assembly. The bill Treasury except in pursuance of
passed three readings on separate
may be reconsidered by the an appropriation made by law.
days, and printed copies thereof in
National Assembly and, if
its final form have been distributed
approved by two-thirds of all its
to its members three days before
Members, shall become a law. The (3) No public money, or property
its passage, except when the
Prime Minister shall act on every shall ever be appropriated,
President certifies to the necessity applied, or used, directly or
bill passed by the National
of its immediate enactment to indirectly, for the use, benefit, or
Assembly within thirty days after
meet a public calamity or support of any sect, church,
the date of receipt thereof;
emergency. Upon the last reading denomination, sectarian institution
otherwise, it shall become a law
of a bill, no amendment thereto or system of religion, for the use,
as if he had signed it.
shall be allowed, and the vote benefit, or support of any priest,
thereon shall be taken immediately (2) The Prime Minister shall have preacher, ministers, or other
thereafter, and the yeas and nays the power to veto any particular religious teacher or dignitary as
entered in the Journal. item or items in appropriation,
such except when such priest,
revenue, or tariff bill, but the veto
preacher, minister, or dignitary is
SEC. 27. shall not affect the item or items to
assigned to the armed forces or to
(1) Every bill passed by the which he does not object.
any penal institution, orphanage or
Congress shall, before it becomes
a law, be presented to the
President. If he approves the
same, he shall sign it; otherwise,
he shall veto it and return the
same with his objections to the
House where it originated, which
shall enter the objections at large
in its Journal and proceed to
reconsider it. If, after such
reconsideration, two-thirds of all
the Members of such House shall
agree to pass the bill, it shall be
sent, together with the objections,
to the other House by which it
shall likewise be reconsidered,
and if approved by two-thirds of all
the Members of that House, it shall
become a law. In all such cases,
the votes of each House shall be
determined by yeas or nays, and
the names of the Members voting
for or against shall be entered in
its Journal. The President shall
communicate his veto of any bill to
the House where it originated
within thirty days after the day of
receipt thereof; otherwise, it shall
become a law as if he had signed
it.
(2) The President shall have the
power to veto any particular item
or items in an appropriation,
revenue, or tariff bill, but the veto
leprosarium.
Section 24.
The heads of departments upon
their own initiative or upon the
request of either House may
appear before and be heard by
such House on any matter
pertaining to their departments,
unless the public interest shall
require otherwise and the
President shall so state in writing.
Section 25.
The Congress, shall, with the
concurrence of two-thirds of all the
Members of each House, have the
sole power to declare war.
Section 26. In times of war and
other national emergency the
Congress may by law authorize
the President, for a limited period,
and subject to such restrictions as
it may prescribe, to promulgate
rules and regulations to carry out a
declared national policy.
shall not affect the item or items to
which he does not object.

SEC. 28.
(1) The rule of taxation shall be
uniform and equitable. The
Congress shall evolve a
progressive system of taxation.

(2)The Congress may, by law,

authorize the President to fix
within specified limits, and subject
to such limitations and restrictions
as it may impose, tariff rates,
import and export quotas, tonnage
and wharfage dues, and other
duties or imposts within the
framework of the national
development program of the
Government.

(3)Charitable institutions, churches

and parsonages or covenants
appurtenant thereto, mosques,
non-profit cemeteries, and all
lands, buildings, and
improvements, actually, directly,
and exclusively used for religious,
charitable, or educational
purposes shall be exempt from
taxation.

(4) No law granting any tax

exemption shall be passed without
the concurrence of a majority of all
the Members of the Congress.

SEC. 29.
(1) No money shall be paid out of
the Treasury except in pursuance
of an appropriation made by law.

(2) No public money or property

shall be appropriated, applied,
paid, or employed, directly or
indirectly, for the use, benefit, or
support of any sect, church,
denomination, sectarian institution,
or system of religion, or of any
priest, preacher, minister, or other
religious teacher, or dignitary as
such, except when such priest,
preacher, minister, or dignitary is
assigned to the armed forces, or to
any penal institution, or
government orphanage or
leprosarium.

(3) All money collected on any tax

levied for a special purpose shall
be treated as a special fund and
paid out for such purpose only. If
the purpose for which a special
fund was created has been fulfilled
or abandoned, the balance, if any,
shall be transferred to the general
funds of the Government.

SEC. 30.
No law shall be passed increasing
the appellate jurisdiction of the
Supreme Court as provided in this
Constitution without its advice and
concurrence.

SEC. 31.
No law granting a title of royalty or
nobility shall be enacted.

SEC. 32.
The Congress shall, as early as
possible, provide for a system of
initiative and referendum, and the
exceptions therefrom, whereby the
people can directly propose and
enact laws or approve or reject
any act or law or part thereof
passed by the Congress or local
legislative body after the
registration of a petition therefor
signed by at least ten per centum
of the total number of registered
voters, of which every legislative
district must be represented by at
least three per centum of the
registered voters thereof.