Article 6: The Legislative Department • Senators serve six years, while

Representatives serve three years.

Legislative Power (SECTION 1) Both can be re-elected, but House
• Legislative power is vested in members can only serve for three
Congress, which consists of the consecutive terms.
Senate and the House of
Representatives. Salary and Privileges (SECTION 7)
• Congress members receive a salary
Senate Composition (SECTION 2) set by law, and their compensation
• The Senate is composed of 24 cannot be increased during their
Senators elected nationwide, each term. They also have immunity
serving a term of six years. from arrest during sessions for
minor offenses.
House of Representatives Composition
(SECTION 3) Sessions (SECTION 8)
• Members of the House of • Congress convenes for its regular
Representatives are elected from session on the fourth Monday of
legislative districts or through a July each year and may hold
party-list system. They serve for special sessions if called by the
three years. President.
Quorum and Voting (SECTION 9)
Qualifications for Senators (SECTION 4) • A majority of each house
• A Senator must be a natural-born constitutes a quorum to do
citizen, at least 35 years old, able business, and each house sets its
to read and write, a registered own rules for voting and discipline.
voter, and a resident of the Legislation Process (SECTION 10)
Philippines for at least two years. • Bills are proposed laws. A bill must
pass both houses and be signed by
Qualifications for House Members the President to become a law. If
(SECTION 5) the President vetoes it, Congress
• A House Representative must be a can override the veto with a two-
natural-born citizen, at least 25 thirds vote.
years old, able to read and write, a
registered voter, and a resident of
their district for at least one year.

Article 7: The Executive Department

Terms of Office (SECTION 6) Executive Power (SECTION 1)

 • The President holds executive out armed forces to suppress
power and is responsible for lawlessness, invasion, or rebellion.
enforcing laws in the Philippines.
Foreign Affairs (SECTION 7)
Qualifications for the President and Vice • The President handles foreign
President (SECTION 2) relations, represents the country in
• Both must be natural-born international matters, and can
citizens, at least 40 years old, able make treaties with Senate
to read and write, registered approval.
voters, and Philippine residents for
at least 10 years before the Budget and Spending (SECTION 8)
election. • The President submits an annual
budget proposal to Congress,
Election and Term (SECTION 3) outlining the government's
• The President and Vice President planned spending.
are elected directly by the people
and serve a term of six years, Accountability (SECTION 9)
without immediate re-election for • The President, Vice President, and
the President. other high officials may be
impeached for violations of the
Vacancy in Office (SECTION 4) Constitution, bribery, graft, or
• If the President's office becomes corruption.
vacant, the Vice President assumes
the role. If both positions are State of the Nation Address (SECTION 10)
vacant, Congress selects a • The President delivers an annual
temporary leader until an election address to Congress on the state
is held. of the nation and the
government’s plans.
Powers of the President (SECTION 5)
• The President has control over all
executive departments, can
appoint officials, grant pardons,
and serve as Commander-in-Chief
of the Armed Forces.

Military Power (SECTION 6)

The Judicial Department – Reviewer
• The President is the military's
Commander-in-Chief and may call Overview
The Judicial Department, part of the branches or government
government, interprets and applies laws agencies.
to individual cases. Its purpose is to
provide a fair hearing, establish facts Section 5 -Powers of the Supreme
through evidence, and allow witnesses Court
to present relevant information about a
1. Original Jurisdiction:
crime or case.
• The Supreme Court can directly
Key Concept
hear cases involving
1. Role of the Judiciary ambassadors, public ministers,
The judiciary interprets and consuls, and petitions related to
applies laws to specific cases. certiorari, prohibition,
The Supreme Court holds the mandamus, quo warranto, and
highest authority, with the power habeas corpus.
to confirm or reverse lower court
Appellate Jurisdiction:
decisions.
2. Judiciary as Supreme Arbiter The Supreme Court can review, revise,
The judiciary’s most reverse, or affirm decisions of lower
fundamental role is to resolve courts on appeal. This includes cases
cases needing legal judgment. such as:
Supreme Court Justices use
wisdom to interpret laws that • Constitutional Questions -
affect citizens’ lives, families, Validity of treaties, laws,
and livelihoods. decrees, orders, ordinances.
• Taxation - Legality of taxes or
Important Section penalties related to taxes.
• Jurisdiction - Issues about
Section 1 – Judicial Power
whether lower courts have the
• Judicial Power Judicial power is proper authority.
vested in one Supreme Court • Criminal Cases - Cases with
and in lower courts established severe penalties (e.g., reclusion
by law. perpetua).
• Questions of Law - Cases
involving only legal
interpretation.
• Courts must resolve disputes
that involve rights that are legally Philippine Judicial Structure
enforceable.
• Courts also check for any grave 1.Legal Profession:
abuse of discretion by other
 • Individuals start in the legal field Integrity and Independence:
by earning a Doctor of Laws or
Juris Doctor degree and passing • Members of the judiciary must
the Philippine Bar Exam. exhibit competence, integrity,
• Lawyers then serve as legal probity, and independence to
counsels, representing parties in ensure they carry out their duties
court and seeking judicial fairly and impartially.
decisions.

2. Hierarchy of Courts:

• Supreme Court -The highest

court with the final says on legal
interpretations.
• Lower Courts - Include appellate
courts, regional trial courts, and
other specialized courts.

Requirements and Qualifications

Section 7 - Qualifications for Judicial

Positions

Supreme Court Justices:

• Must be natural-born Filipino

citizens.
• Must be at least 40 years old.
• Must have 15+ years of
experience as a lower court
judge or in law practice in the
Philippines.

Judges of Lower Courts:

• Must be citizens of the

Philippines and members of the
Philippine Bar.
• Congress sets specific
qualifications for lower court
judges.