Philippine Senate: Bill To Law Process Explained

The process of a bill becoming a law in the Philippines involves multiple steps and the participation of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Firstly, a bill is drafted by a legislator and filed in their respective chamber. Subsequently, the bill undergoes three readings and committee consideration in that chamber. If the bill is approved, it is forwarded to the other chamber, where it undergoes an identical process. In the event of discrepancies between the two versions, a bicameral conference committee is convened to reconcile the differences. The finalised bill is then presented to the President for approval or veto. If approved by the President, the bill is assigned an RA number and transmitted back to the chamber of origin. If vetoed, the bill is returned to the chamber of origin, along with a message outlining the reasons for the veto. Ultimately, Congress has the power to override a presidential veto by securing a two-thirds majority vote in favour of the bill.

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

A bill is a law in the making. In the Philippines, the process of a bill becoming a law is a multi-step process involving both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The first step is the drafting of the bill by a legislator. The legislator can be a member of the Senate or the House of Representatives. The legislator can develop ideas for legislation with the assistance of the Senate Legislative Technical Affairs Bureau. The legislator can also propose legislation based on requests from special interest groups or constituents. Once the bill is drafted, the legislator files it in their respective chamber.

In the Senate, a member may introduce any of 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. House and Senate bills may have joint sponsorship and carry 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 is filed in the chamber, it is given a corresponding number and calendared for its First Reading.

It goes through three readings and committee consideration

Once a bill has been introduced and given a number, it is read and referred to the appropriate committee. The Senate President is responsible for referring bills to the appropriate committees. The jurisdictions of the Standing Committees are outlined in Rule X, Section 13 of the Rules of the Senate. For example, if a bill involves matters relating to agriculture, food production and agri-business, it must be referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Food.

The standing committees of the Senate, operating as “little legislatures,” determine the fate of most proposals. Committee hearings are scheduled to discuss the bills, and committee members and staff are often experts in the subjects under their jurisdiction. It is at the committee stage that a bill comes under the sharpest scrutiny. If a measure is to be substantially revised, the revision usually occurs at the committee level.

A committee may dispose of a bill in one of several ways: it may approve or reject the legislation with or without amendments; rewrite the bill entirely; reject it, which essentially kills the bill; or report it favorably or without recommendation, which allows the chamber to consider the bill at all.

A committee report describes the purpose and scope of the bill, explains any committee amendments, indicates proposed changes to existing law, and includes other relevant materials. Reports are numbered in the order in which they are filed and printed.

It's sent to the other chamber to repeat the process

Once a bill has been approved by the lower house of Congress, it is sent to the Senate for concurrence. Here, the bill will undergo the same legislative process as it did in the lower house.

First Reading of the Bill

The bill is filed with the Bills and Index Service, where it is numbered and reproduced. Three days after its filing, it is included in the Order of Business for First Reading. On First Reading, the Secretary General reads the title and number of the bill, and the Speaker refers it to the appropriate committee(s). The committee evaluates the bill, conducts public hearings, makes recommendations, and transmits it to the Plenary Session for appropriate action.

Second Reading of the Bill

The Bill undergoes its Second Reading. The Committee Report is registered and numbered by the Bills and Index Service, included in the Order of Business, and referred to the Committee on Rules, who schedule the bill for consideration on Second Reading. On Second Reading, the Secretary General reads the number, title, and text of the bill, and the following takes place: a period of sponsorship and debate, a period of amendments, and voting.

Third Reading of the Bill

The Bill undergoes its Third and final Reading. The amendments, if any, are engrossed and printed copies of the bill are reproduced for Third Reading. The engrossed bill is included in the Calendar of Bills for Third Reading, and copies are distributed to all Members three days before its Third Reading. On Third Reading, the Secretary General reads only the number and title of the bill, and a roll call or nominal voting is called. A Member, if they desire, is given three minutes to explain their vote. No amendment to the bill is allowed at this stage.

The bill is then approved by an affirmative vote of a majority of the Members present. If the bill is approved, it is transmitted to the House for its concurrence. If the bill is disapproved, it is transmitted to the Archives.

A bicameral conference committee reconciles any differences

Once a bill has been approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, a bicameral conference committee is formed to deliberate, integrate, and reconcile any differences or amendments between the two versions of the bill.

The conference committee is composed of members from each house of Congress, and they are tasked with settling, reconciling, or ironing out disagreements on any provision of the bill. The committee's authority is limited to matters in disagreement between the two chambers. In practice, however, conferees have wide latitude and can introduce new provisions related to the subject matter or even report out an entirely new bill.

The conference committee will amend, revise, and finalize the bill. They will then prepare a report, which must be signed by all conferees and the committee chairman, and submit it for consideration and approval by both houses. No amendments are allowed at this stage.

Copies of the bill, signed by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and certified by the Secretary of the Senate and the Secretary General of the House, are then transmitted to the President.

The final bill is sent to the President to be signed or vetoed

Once the bill has been approved by both houses of Congress, it is sent to the President of the Philippines to be signed or vetoed. If the President approves the bill, they will sign it and it will become a law. This law will be assigned an RA number and transmitted to the house where it originated. On the other hand, if the President vetoes the bill, it will be sent back to the house where it originated, along with a message outlining the reasons for the veto. The house will then enter these objections into its journal and proceed to reconsider the bill. If, after this reconsideration, two-thirds of the members of the house agree to pass the bill, it will be sent to the other house, where it will be reconsidered. If approved by two-thirds of the members of that house, it will become a law.

The President must communicate their veto of any bill to the house where it originated within 30 days of receiving it. If they do not, the bill will become a law as if the President had signed it. Additionally, a bill may become a law without the President's signature if they do not act on it within 30 days of receiving it.

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