Understanding The Philippines' Legislative Process Visually

The process of how a bill becomes a law in the Philippines involves multiple steps and can be visualized using a diagram. This process involves both the Senate and the House of Representatives, and it begins with a member of Congress drafting a bill. The bill then undergoes three readings in each chamber, with the possibility of amendments and approval. If discrepancies arise, a bicameral conference committee intervenes to reconcile the differences. The final bill is then sent to the President, who has the power to sign it into law, veto it, or take no action, allowing it to become a law without their signature. This multi-step procedure ensures that legislation is thoroughly reviewed and debated before becoming law.

The bill is drafted by a legislator and filed in their chamber

The process of turning a bill into a law in the Philippines is a multi-step process that involves both the Senate and the House of Representatives. It begins with a member of Congress, a legislator, drafting a bill and filing it in their chamber. This is the first step in the legislative process.

The legislator will develop ideas for the bill, and technical assistance in research and drafting legislative language is available at the Senate Legislative Technical Affairs Bureau. Special interest groups, such as businesses, religious groups, and consumers, are also fertile sources of legislation. Constituents, either as individuals or groups, may also propose legislation, and a member of the Senate may introduce such a bill, whether or not they support its purpose.

Much of the legislation considered by Congress originates from the executive branch. Each year, after the President of the Philippines outlines his legislative program in his State-of-the-Nation Address, the executive departments and agencies transmit to the House and the Senate drafts of proposed legislation to carry out the President's program.

No matter where a legislative proposal originates, it can only be introduced by a member of Congress. In the Senate, a member may introduce several types of bills and resolutions by filing it with the Office of the Secretary. There is no limit to the number of bills a member may introduce, and House and Senate bills may have joint sponsorship, carrying several members' names.

Major legislation is often introduced in both houses simultaneously in the form of companion bills to speed up the legislative process and show broad support for the legislation.

Once a bill has been drafted and filed, it will undergo three readings and committee consideration in that chamber. If approved, it will be sent to the other chamber to go through the same process.

The bill goes through three readings in both the House of Representatives and the Senate

The legislative process to pass a bill into law in the Philippines involves up to 12 steps. After a bill is drafted by a legislator and filed in the chamber they are a member of, it goes through three readings in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Here is a detailed breakdown of the three readings:

First Reading

The bill number, title, and author's name are read on the floor. The Speaker refers the bill to the appropriate Committee/s. The appropriate Committee evaluates the bill, conducts public hearings, makes recommendations, and transmits the same to Plenary Session for appropriate action.

Second Reading

The bill is read in full, with any amendments proposed by the Committee. The bill is then subject to debates and amendments. After any amendments, the bill is voted upon. If the bill is approved, it goes to the third reading.

Third Reading

The bill is again voted upon. Printed copies of the bill in its final form should be distributed to the Members of the house three days before its passage. After the three readings in the first house, the bill is transmitted to the second house. The same process of three readings is followed.

If approved, the bill is sent to the President

Once a bill has been approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, it is sent to the President. The President has three options:

• Sign the bill, making it a law.
• Do not act on the bill (neither sign nor veto) within 30 days of receiving it, allowing it to become law as if they had signed it.
• Veto the bill.

If the President chooses to veto the bill, they must return it, along with their objections, to the first house (either the Senate or the House of Representatives, depending on where the bill originated). The first house will then reconsider the bill, and if two-thirds of its members agree to pass it, it will be sent, along with the objections, to the second house. If two-thirds of the members of the second house also agree to pass the bill, it will become law without requiring the President's signature.

The President can sign the bill, veto it, or do nothing

The President has three options when it comes to signing a bill into law in the Philippines. Firstly, the President can sign the bill, and it will become a law. Secondly, the President can choose not to act on the bill, neither signing nor vetoing it, within 30 days of receiving it. In this case, the bill will become a law as if the President had signed it. This is sometimes referred to as a 'pocket veto'. Finally, the President can veto the bill. In this case, the bill is returned to the First House of Congress, with the President's objections. If two-thirds of the Members of the First House agree to pass the bill, it is sent to the Second House, along with the President's objections. If two-thirds of the Members of the Second House also agree to pass the bill, it becomes law without requiring the President's signature.

If vetoed, Congress can override the veto

In the Philippines, the president has the power to veto a bill, which means they can unilaterally stop it from becoming a law. If the president vetoes a bill, they must send it back to the house where it originated, along with their objections. The bill then has to be reconsidered by the first house, and if two-thirds of the members agree to pass it, it is transmitted to the second house. If two-thirds of the members of the second house also agree to pass the bill, it becomes law without requiring the president's signature. This is called overriding the veto.

The process of passing a bill into law in the Philippines involves up to 12 steps, including three readings in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. If the bill is approved by both chambers, it is sent to the president, who can either sign it into law, veto it, or do nothing and allow it to lapse into law. If the president vetoes the bill, Congress can override this veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both houses. This means that despite the president's objection, the bill can still become a law if there is sufficient support for it in Congress.

The veto power is an important tool for the executive branch to influence the legislative process, and it is typically found in presidential and semi-presidential systems. In the Philippines, the president has 30 days to veto a bill after receiving it. If they do not take any action within this time frame, the bill becomes law as if the president had signed it.

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