ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS MADE BY JOURNALIST AS IF YOU WERE THE
SPECIALIST (MAKE THE ANSWERS CONCISE AND DIRECT).
INSTRUCTIONS:
Suppose you are a Legislative Liaison Specialist of the Congress. You are being
interviewed by a journalist for a documentary on the functions of the Philippine
Congress. Answer the following questions of the journalist on the space provided.
Please use a separate sheet of paper for your answers. The answers will be checked
according to:
1) Accurateness of the information = 5 points
2) Conciseness and directness of the answer = 5 points
QUESTIONS:
1. Journalist: Describe briefly the function of the Congress.
Specialist:
2. Journalist: What is the process of making a law?
Specialist:
3. Journalist: What is the difference between a bill and a resolution?
Specialist:
4. Journalist: What happens if the president does not approve a bill submitted to
him/her by Congress?
Specialist:
5. Journalist: Can the bill be enacted even without the signature of the president?
How?
Specialist:
6. Journalist: As an ordinary citizen, how can I propose a bill to the Congress?
Specialist:
7. Journalist: What are the possible reasons for the shelving of a bill?
Specialist:
8. Journalist: What are the differences and similarities between a senator and a
representative?
Specialist:
9. Journalist: If you would rate the performance of the current Congress from 1-10
with 10 as the highest, what would your rating be? Why?
Specialist:
10. Journalist: Any tip for those who want to be a lawmaker?
Specialist:
1. Specialist: The Congress is the legislative branch of the Philippine
government. Its primary function is to create laws that govern the nation. It
also oversees the government's budget and has the power to impeach
government officials.
2. Specialist: The process of making a law involves several steps: a bill is
introduced, it then undergoes 3 hearings through deliberation, debate, vote
by both houses of Congress, and then sent to the President for approval or
veto.
3. Specialist: A bill proposes a new law or amends an existing one, while a
resolution expresses an opinion or resolves a specific issue which has 3 types.
4. Specialist: If the President vetoes the bill, it will go back to the Congress
and the Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds vote in both houses.
However, if the President does not sign a bill within 30 days, it automatically
becomes law.
5. Specialist: Yes, a bill can be enacted without the President's signature
through a veto override, which requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the
Senate and the House of Representatives. Another case is also when the
President does not sign a bill within 30 days.
6. Specialist: As an ordinary citizen, you can propose a bill by asking your
elected representative to introduce it on your behalf.
7. Specialist: Bills can be shelved due to lack of support or resources, political
considerations, not prioritized, procedural delays, opposition and
disagreements, constitutional challenges, or the bill not being written well.
8. Specialist: Senators represent the entire nation and have longer terms,
while representatives represent specific districts or marginalized sectors and
are more directly accountable to constituents. Both have the power to
introduce bills, vote on legislation, and participate in oversight functions.
9. Specialist: I would rate the current Congress a 6. While they have passed
important legislation, there have been instances of inefficiency like the Alice
Guo case wherein they spent millions on it but still managed to let her
escape. Congress is also filled with many corrupt officials which lead to selfish
proposals. But not all officials are like this, and there is still room for
improvement.
10.Specialist: To be a successful lawmaker, it's a must to have a deep
understanding of national issues, a strong commitment to public service, and
communication skills. Building strong relationships with colleagues and
constituents is also needed for legislative success, as well as breaking the
stereotypes of Filipino officials being called corrupt.
1. “The Iron Lady of Asia” - known for her sharp wit and bold eloquence, she
was a formidable force to be reckoned with in Philippine politics, both in
leadership and writing.
2. Achievements - Long-serving Senator of the Philippines, elected judge of the
International Criminal Court, awarded the highest national honor (Quezon
Service Cross), and outstanding performance in prestigious universities.
3. Was named one of “The 100 Most Powerful Women in the World” by The
Australian magazine.
