How the Philippine Government Is Organized PDF

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How the Philippine Government Is OrganizedThe Philippines is a republic with a presidential form of government wherein power is  equally divided among its three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. One basic corollary in a presidential system of government is the principle of se...

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How the Philippine Government Is Organized The Philippines is a republic with a presidential form of government wherein power is equally divided among its three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.

 One basic corollary in a presidential system of government is the principle of separation of powers wherein legislation belongs to Congress, execution to the Executive, and settlement of legal controversies to the Judiciary. TheLegislative branchis authorized to make laws, alter, and repeal them through the power vested in the Philippine Congress. This institution is divided into the Senate and the House of Representatives. ● TheExecutive branchcarries out laws. It is composed of the President and the Vice President who are elected by direct popular vote and serve a term of six years. The Constitution grants the President authority to appoint his Cabinet. These departments form a large portion of the country’s bureaucracy. ● TheJudicial branchevaluates laws. It holds the power to settle controversies involving rights that are legally demandable and enforceable. This branch determines whether or not there has been a grave abuse of discretion amounting to ●

lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part and instrumentality of the government. It is made up of a Supreme Court and lower courts. Each branch of government can change acts of the other branches as follows: The President can veto laws passed by Congress. Congress confirms or rejects the President's appointments and can remove the President from office in exceptional circumstances. ● The Justices of the Supreme Court, who can overturn unconstitutional laws, are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. ● ●

The Philippine government seeks to act in the best interests of its citizens through this system of checks and balances. The Constitution expressly grants the Supreme Court the power of Judicial Review as the power to declare a treaty, international or executive agreement, law, presidential decree, proclamation, order, instruction, ordinance or regulation unconstitutional. 

Legislative Department The Legislative Branch enacts legislation, confirms or rejects Presidential appointments, and has the authority to declare war. This branch includes Congress (the Senate and House of Representatives) and several agencies that provide support services to Congress. Senate– The Senate shall be composed of twenty-four Senators who shall be elected at large by the qualified voters of the Philippines, as may be provided by law. ● House of Representatives– The House of Representatives 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, as provided by law, shall be elected through a party-list system of registered national, regional, and sectoral parties or organizations. ●

The party-list representatives shall constitute twenty per cent of the total number of representatives including those under the party list. For three 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. 

Executive Department

The executive branch carries out and enforces laws. It includes the President, Vice President, the Cabinet, executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees. Key roles of the executive branch include: President– The President leads the country. He/she is the head of state, leader of the national government, and Commander in Chief of all armed forces of the Philippines. The President serves a six-year term and cannot be re-elected. ● Vice President– The Vice President supports the President. If the President is unable to serve, the Vice President becomes President. He/she serves a six-year term. ● The Cabinet – Cabinet members serve as advisors to the President. They include the Vice President and the heads of executive departments. Cabinet members are nominated by the President and must be confirmed by the Commission of Appointments.

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Judicial Department The judicial branch interprets the meaning of laws, applies laws to individual cases, and decides if laws violate the Constitution. The judicial power shall be vested in oneSupreme Courtand in such lower courts as may be established by law. Judicial power includes the duty of the courts of justice to settle actual controversies involving rights which are legally demandable and enforceable, and to determine whether or not there has been a grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of any branch or instrumentality of the Government. The judicial branch interprets the meaning of laws, applies laws to individual cases, and decides if laws violate the Constitution. ...