Archipelagic Doctrine - Body of water studded with islands and surrounded by water is viewed

as in unity with the islands and waters in forming one integral unit.

Territorial sea: extends up to 12nm from the baseline of the state

Contiguous zone: extends up to 12nm from the Territorial see

EEZ: extends up to 200 nm from the baseline of the state

3 inherent powers of the state:

Police power: This is the state power to promoting the public welfare, peace and order by restraining
and regulating the use of both liberty and property of all the people. It may be exercised only by the
government. It is also considered as the most powerful among the three inherent powers of the state.
Police power permits the state to take liberty, property, or even the life of a person for the better good
of the society as a whole.

Power of eminent domain: It is the power of the state to forcibly take the private property for public
use upon payment of just compensation. Like police power it is based on the public necessity and is
exercised by the legislative branch of the state. However, unlike police power, Eminent domain may be
exercised by the private entities with the express valid delegation from the legislature. It can likewise be
exercised by the President of the country or even the Administrative agencies and local governments.
The power is usually exercised through the formal expropriation proceedings.

Power of taxation: Taxation is the power of the state to enforce proportional contribution from
the people, property and exercise of the right within its territory to raise revenue for the purpose
of defraying the necessary expenses of the state. It is stated in the “ LIFEBLOOD DOCTRINE ”
that taxes are the lifeblood of a nation which means that without the revenue raised from
Taxation the state will not survive. It would be paralyzed and could not operate in an effective
and efficient manner.

The power to tax is the most important inherent power of the state because it raises revenue in
order to support the operations of the government. The state cannot continue to operate or exist
without financial means, as provided by taxation.

HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW

First things first, we need to understand what a bill is and the role of Congress in enacting laws.

The Congress of the Philippines is the branch of government tasked with creating laws in the
Philippines. It is made up of two Houses: a) the Lower House, or the House of Representatives;
and, b) the Upper House, or the Senate.  Its members are the congressmen and senators you
voted for.

As part of the law-making process, individual members of Congress propose bills for approval
by the majority of Congress.  If the bill gets approved, it will constitute part of the law of the
Philippines.  In this article, we will give you a step-by-step guide as to how a bill becomes law
(or more specifically, a statute) in the Philippines.

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1. To initiate the law-making process, the proposed bill is signed by its author and filed with
the Secretary of the either the Lower House (for congressmen) or the Senate (for senators).

2. The bill will go through three readings. On the First Reading, the number and title of the bill
is read, followed by its referral to the appropriate committee for study.

3. On the Second Reading, the bill is read in full along with amendments proposed by the
committee who studied it.  The bill is then subjected to debates and discussion by the
members of the House where it was filed. After extensive discussion, the bill will be voted on.
If approved, it would go through a third reading.

4. On Third Reading, the bill will be submitted for a final vote. If approved again, it shall be
transmitted to the other House for concurrence. The other House will go through the same
process of having three readings.

5. If the other House introduces amendments and the House from which the bill originated
does not approve of the amendments, the differences will be settled by a meeting of the
Conference Committees of both Houses, whose recommendations will have to be approved
by both Houses.

6. Once the bill is approved, it is transmitted to the President of the Philippines for
signature. The President may then either sign the bill to indicate approval, or veto the bill to
indicate disapproval.  If approved, the bill officially becomes a law.

7. If the President decides to exercise his veto powers, the Congress may re-pass the vetoed
bill if two-thirds of both Houses, voting separately, approve its enactment. In this case, the
bill also officially becomes a law.

FAST FACTS: How does impeachment

Some top officials, including the President of the Philippines, enjoy "immunity from suit" while
in office.

But this does not get them completely off the hook.

The 1987 Constitution lays down rules to make them accountable through the process of
impeachment.

Who can be impeached

Section 2, Article XI of the Constitution says that the President, Vice President, members of the
Supreme Court, members of constitutional commissions, and the Ombudsman may be removed
from office via impeachment.

Only one complaint can be filed against an impeachable official per year – if an impeachment
complaint does not prosper, a second complaint cannot be filed within the same year.

Who can file

Any member of the House of Representatives can initiate a verified impeachment complaint.
Any Filipino citizen may also file a complaint, which should be endorsed by a House member.

At least one-third of House members may likewise file a verified complaint or resolution of
impeachment. Given the 292 members of the House at present, this translates to at least 97
members.

Grounds for impeachment

An impeachment complaint can be filed on any of the following grounds:

 Culpable violation of the Constitution

Receipt of complaint

A verified impeachment complaint should be filed with the Office of the Secretary General of
the House. It would be immediately referred to the Speaker.
Within 10 session days from receipt, the Speaker shall include it in the House's Order of
Business. In relation to the complaint filed against President Rodrigo Duterte on March 16, this
means Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has until May 23 to include it in the Order of Business.

After inclusion, the complaint should then be referred to the House committee on justice within 3
session days after. With respect to the Duterte complaint, this means it can be referred to the
committee up to May 30.

The House justice committee shall then determine whether the complaint is sufficient in form
and substance, and if there is probable cause to pursue it. A majority vote of justice committee
members will be needed to decide there is probable cause.

From House to Senate

After conducting hearings, the justice committee should file, within 60 days from referral, a
formal resolution to the House plenary regarding the impeachment complaint. If there is probable
cause, the committee will also submit a resolution setting the Articles of Impeachment.

At least one-third of House members voting for the Articles of Impeachment will be needed for it
to be endorsed to the Senate. This is equivalent to 97 members of the current House.

Impeachment trial

The Senate will try and decide all cases of impeachment in a full-blown trial.

In case the President is on trial, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court will preside over the
proceedings.

If two-thirds of Senate members vote to convict an impeachable official as outlined in the