Art. VI - LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT скачать в хорошем качестве

Art. VI - LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

Think of a government as a vehicle. The Legislative Department is the engine that provides the power to move forward. It is the branch of government responsible for creating, enacting, and amending the laws that govern the land. In a democratic system like the Philippines', this power resides not in a single person but in a body of elected representatives of the people. Article VI of the 1987 Constitution establishes this all-important branch, defining its structure, powers, and limitations to ensure it serves the public interest. Core Concept: The Philippine Congress The heart of Article VI is the establishment of the Philippine Congress. · Bicameral Nature: The Congress is bicameral, meaning it is composed of two separate chambers or "Houses": 1. The Senate (Upper House) 2. The House of Representatives (Lower House) This two-chamber system is designed to provide a system of checks and balances within the legislature itself. Each house can deliberate on and refine the work of the other, preventing rash decision-making. Key Components to Discuss in Article VI Your discussions will likely revolve around these fundamental elements: 1. Composition and Membership · The Senate: Composed of 24 Senators who are elected at-large by the entire electorate. This means they represent the entire nation, not a specific district. Their term is six years, with a two-term limit. · The House of Representatives: Composed of not more than 250 members. This includes: · District Representatives: Elected by the voters in specific geographical constituencies. · Party-List Representatives: Elected through a party-list system, representing labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous, women, youth, and other underrepresented sectors. 2. Qualifications Article VI sets specific qualifications for Senators and House Members (e.g., age, citizenship, residency, literacy). Discussing these helps understand who is deemed fit to make laws for the country. 3. Powers, Functions, and Responsibilities This is the most critical part. The legislative power is essentially vested in Congress, which includes: · The Power of the Purse: The exclusive power to authorize the government's budget, levy taxes, and appropriate funds. This is arguably its most potent check on the Executive branch. · Lawmaking: The power to create laws on matters of national policy. · Oversight: The power to conduct inquiries in aid of legislation to check the performance of the Executive branch and its agencies. · Treaty Concurrence: The Senate must concur (provide a 2/3 vote) for international treaties to become valid and effective. · Impeachment: The House has the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment, while the Senate has the sole power to try and decide such cases. 4. The Legislative Process Article VI outlines (directly and implicitly) how a bill becomes a law—a journey that requires approval from both houses and the President. Key steps include: · Introduction and reading · Committee deliberation · Debates and amendments on the floor · Voting in both Houses · Presenting the enrolled bill to the President for approval or veto. 5. Checks and Balances A crucial theme is how Congress interacts with the other branches: · vs. Executive: It checks the President through its power over the budget, its oversight functions, its treaty-concurring power, and its ability to override a presidential veto. · vs. Judiciary: While Congress makes the laws, the Supreme Court can review these laws and declare them unconstitutional if they violate the Constitution. Why This Discussion Matters Discussing the Legislative Department isn't just about memorizing rules. It's about understanding: · Representation: How are the voices of ordinary Filipinos heard in the halls of power? · Accountability: How do we ensure that those who make our laws are acting in our best interest? · Governance: How do laws, which affect every aspect of daily life—from taxes to education to business—truly come into existence? · Democracy in Action: Congress is the most direct embodiment of a representative democracy, where elected officials debate, compromise, and create the framework for our society. In essence, Article VI is the blueprint for the country's law-making engine. Understanding its provisions is fundamental to understanding how Philippine democracy is designed to function. Your discussions will delve into the mechanics of this engine, its fuel (the power of the purse), and its safeguards to prevent it from overheating or breaking down.