PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE 2nd Periodic Test
Reviewer Ms. Angelika May Magtibay
Remember, however, that while the branches
The Philippines has a presidential, unitary, and of the government are guided by these
republican system of government. principles, they also are expected to work and
cooperate with each other in providing for the
Under a presidential system of government, the welfare of the citizens.
executive, legislative, and judiciary branches
are separate and distinct from each other. EXECUTIVE POWER
This roughly defined as the power to
This means that each of the branches has its implement laws in one country. If the
own powers and responsibilities, and that each legislature’s task is to create or make laws while
is expected to work in its own sphere. Such the judiciary’s duty is to interpret or apply these
setting is guided by the principle of separation laws, the executive branch of the government is
of powers vested the power to execute these laws and
make sure that they are properly implemented.
Article VII of the 1987 Constitution. Section 1 states that
the “executive power is vested in the President of the
Philippines.”
If at the beginning of the term of the President,
the President-elect shall have died or shall have
become permanently disabled, the Vice-
President elect shall become President. Where
no President and Vice-President shall have been
chosen or shall have qualified, or where both
shall have died or become permanently
disabled, the President of the Senate or, in case
of his inability, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives shall act as President until a
President or a Vice-President shall have been
This constitutional guarantee which assures chosen and qualified.
that one branch does not abuse its powers is
known as the doctrine of checks and balances. Powers of the President
The Philippine president is granted specific powers by
the Constitution. The following are some of his or her
powers:
• Control over all executive departments, bureaus, and
offices
• Power of general supervision over local governments
and autonomous regions
• Power to nominate, appoint, and remove officials
• Budgetary and fiscal power
• Military power (him or her being the commander in
chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines)
• Power to contract or guarantee foreign loans on
behalf of the country
• Pardoning power
• Powers to check other branches of the government
PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE 2nd Periodic Test
Reviewer Ms. Angelika May Magtibay
Checks on the President’s Power
How the president’s exercise of power is checked? The Lawmaking Process and Legislative Performance
• The Congress specifies the conditions and restrictions 1. Preparation of the bill
of certain powers it assigns to the president. 2. First reading
• Only through the authorization and specifications of 3. Committee consideration/action
Congress could the president exercise power of 4. Second reading
taxation. 5. Third reading
• The Congress can request the department heads 6. Transmittal of approved bill to the other house
under the executive department to appear and be (where procedures 1 to 5 also happen)
heard on any matters pertaining to their corresponding 7. Conference committee (if there are differences or
departments. disagreements)
• The Congress can override the president's veto by 8. Submission of the bill to the president
two-thirds vote in each house. 9. Presidential action on the bill
• The Supreme Court may declare executive orders and
proclamations unconstitutional. If the president approves the bill, the same is assigned
• The Supreme Court may review the declaration of an RA (Republic Act) number and is then transmitted to
martial law and suspension of the writ of habeas the House where it originated. Afterward, copies of the
corpus. bill are reproduced and sent to the office of the Official
Gazette for publication and distribution to the
Legislative Power implementing agencies. Finally, it will be included in the
The legislative branch creates the laws which annual compilation of Acts and Resolutions.
the executive implements and which the
judiciary interprets. If the bill is vetoed, it is transmitted to the House where
it originated together with the message of the president
Article VI, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution provides citing the reason for the bill’s disapproval. The Congress
that the power to enact laws is vested in the Philippine may decide to override the veto of the president. If two-
Congress (comprised of the Senate and the House of thirds of the members in each house vote to override
Representatives) the veto, then the bill becomes a law.
Powers of the Congress Judicial Power
The Congress is also given powers to check on the The power to decide on legal disputes is known
powers of the president. Among these are: as judicial power. Hence, the central function of
• Check the president’s power to appropriate money for the judges is to adjudicate and interpret the
government use (Article VI, Section 25). law.
• Provide consent on appointments made by the
president (Article VII, Section 16). Article VIII, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution provides
• Request heads of executive departments to appear that “judicial power shall be vested in one Supreme
before the Congress (Article VI, Section 22). Court and in such other lower courts as may be
• Check the president’s power as commander in chief in established by law.”
the suspension of writ of habeas corpus or declaration
of martial law (Article VII, Section 17). The independence of the Philippine judiciary is
• Concur with president in granting amnesty to manifested in the following:
individuals (Article VII, Section 19). • Creation of the Judicial and Bar Council
• Declaration of the existence of a state of war [Article • Expanded power of judicial review
VI, Section 23(1)] • Fiscal autonomy of the judiciary
• Granting of emergency powers to the President in • Power to review proclamation of martial law and the
times of war or emergency [Article VI, Section 23(2)] suspension of the writ of habeas corpus
• Security of tenure of the judges
• The Supreme Court as judge in presidential elections
PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE 2nd Periodic Test
Reviewer Ms. Angelika May Magtibay
FACT PART OF THE PRESIDENT’S POWERS (GOCC)
The powers of the government of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)
Philippines is vested upon the Executive branch, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)
Legislative branch and the Judiciary. Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)
The Philippine government exercises the
principles of checks and balances.
FACT
The government has three (3) inherent powers.
The main insular penitentiary in the country is Presidential Electoral Tribunal has the authority
the New Bilibid Prison. to settle justiciable controversies or disputes on
the electoral process in the Philippines.
BLUFF Members of the PET – members of the Judiciary
PET jurisdiction – President & Vice President
Among these branches, the Executive has the
most power.
It refers to the doctrine and practice of
dispersing political power and creating mutual MMDA is under Executive branch
accountability among political entities. They may spearhead a coastal clean-up along
One of these is the legislative power which is the Manila Bay in cooperation with the local
entitled to create laws. government of Manila City and other
The Vice-President serves as the Chief of the municipalities encompassing Manila Bay.
Armed Forces of the Philippines. MMDA together with local government units
The Senate President can succeed the may perform clearing operations to clear road
remaining term of the President in case of obstructions that may cause traffic congestion
death, serious illness or impeachment. with major and mabuhay lanes.
The investigation in the country lies with the They may reclaim public roads that have been
Federal Bureau of Investigation. used for personal interests of Barangay officials
for the convenience of the traffic system.
GROUNDS FOR DISQUALIFICATION OF A PARTY-LIST
AND REPRESENTATIVE/NOMINEE Impeachment Case vs. Erap Estrada – Graft and
Corruption
that it is not a foreign party or organization; He was given clemency by Gloria Arroyo – is
that it does not receive support for partisan civil and political rights were restored and
political purposes from any foreign government, enabled him to run for public office again.
foreign political party, foundation, organization, Valid Impeachment proceedings
whether directly or indirectly, or through any of An impeachment complaint
its officers or members or indirectly through filed by any Member of the
third parties; House of Representatives.
the period of existence of petitioner, which Any citizen with an
shall be at least one year at the time the endorsement of a member of
petition if filed; and the House of Representatives
may file charges for
PART OF THE PRESIDENT’S MANDATE impeachment.
A vote of at least one-third of
Local Government Units all the Members of the House
Appointment of Cabinet Members shall be necessary to affirm or
Passage of a Bill counter a resolution.
PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE 2nd Periodic Test
Reviewer Ms. Angelika May Magtibay
THOUGHTS TO PONDER FOR ESSAY An Act Providing Crop Insurance for Small
Farmers
Don’t leave these items blank!! 6 points each. Minimum
An Act Regulating Health Facilities in the
of 3 sentences.
Philippines
What do you think could happen if the An Act Institutionalizing Values Education in the
president’s power is left unchecked? new K-12 Curriculum
Do you agree to the saying that “justice delayed
is justice denied”? Explain your answer by
sharing an instance of how a person can Just think of your goal explanation or what do you want
experience a delay in the administration of your bill to attain. Compose a three-sentence
justice. explanation so that the bill you proposed will be
Is more autonomy synonymous to better approved.
governance? Explain your answer.
Do you think you can change the course of the
Philippine political and economic landscape
through elections? Explain your answer.
FOR BILL CREATION (13 points) DON’T LEAVE BLANK
You are a newly elected member of the Senate of the
Republic of the Philippines. Under oath, you are tasked
to write/author a bill, which shall be dealt with by the
entire legislative body.
Propose a TITLE OF YOUR BILL/ AMMENDMENT OF AN
Put any combination of 5 numbers on the S. No.
EXISTING LAW and explain the goal of your proposed
(12345, 98765, 34567)
bill in three (3) sentences. Choose among the following
Write your complete name on the Senator
issues/topics: COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION – Institution
Write the title of your bill on the blank space
of Values Education in the new K-12 Curriculum,
after the AN ACT
Continuing Education for Teachers, No Permit- No Exam
Policy, Senior High School Reserve Officer Training Corps
(ROTC); COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICES – Poverty
Reduction through Entrepreneurship, Increasing Social
Pension of Senior Citizens; Health Facilities Regulation;
COMMITTEE ON DEFENSE AND PUBLIC SAFETY – Anti-
Terrorism, Hazing as a Heinous Crime, Police
Scholarship Program; COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE –
Crop Insurance for Small Farmers, Pantawid
Magsasakang Pilipino.
POSSIBLE TITLES (these are suggestions you may use)
Compose a three-sentence explanation so that
An Act Strengthening the Anti-Terrorism Law the bill you proposed will be approved.
An Act Establishing Any Forms of Hazing as a Write your complete name on the right bottom
Heinous Crime part and place your signature
An Act Providing Police Scholarship Program
PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE 2nd Periodic Test
Reviewer Ms. Angelika May Magtibay
1 POINT EACH FOR THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS
(TOTAL OF 5 POINTS) OUT OF 13 POINTS FOR THE
WHOLE CONTENT
