PPG REVIEWER
Module 1: The Legislative Branch of the Government
The Legislative power is the authority under the Constitution to make laws and to alter and repeal them.
The Philippine Congress is granted with a legislative power that composes two chambers: The Philippine
Senate and the House of Representatives. The Philippine Congress is vested with the power to enact
laws, except when the power is reserved to the people through initiative and referendum as stated in
Article VI, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution.
•The Senate of the Philippines is the upper chamber house of the Congress. A senate is a deliberate
assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The Senate is composed of 24
senators who are elected at-large with the country as one district under plurality at-large voting.
•House of Representatives is the lowest house of the Congress. It is frequently called Congress and is
sometimes referred to as referred known as the Kamara. Every representative, also referred to as a
congressman or congresswoman, A representative is chosen to serve the citizens of a certain area for a
three-year tenure. district in Congress. In the Philippines, elections for the lower house are held in
parallel. There There are presently 297 seats in the House, with 59 party-list representatives and 238
district representatives.
The Lawmaking Process and Legislative Performance
1. Preparation of the bill 6. Transmittal of approved bill to the other
house (where procedures 1 to
2. First reading
5 also happen)
3. Committee consideration/action
7. Conference committee (if there are
4. Second reading
differences or disagreements)
5. Third reading
8. Submission of the bill to the President
9. Presidential action on the bill
If the bill is approved by the president, it is given an R.A. (Republic Act) number, after which it was
forwarded to the appropriate House. Copies of the bill are then made and delivered to the official's
office. Gazette for publishing and delivery to the agencies involved in implementation. Ultimately, it will
be incorporated into the yearly collection of resolutions and acts. The bill is returned to the House from
which it originated if it is vetoed. in addition to the President's statement outlining the rationale behind
the bill's rejection. The Congress may choose to overturn the President's veto. if To override the veto,
two-thirds of the MPs in each house must vote, after which the (DIWA Learning System, 2017) The
measure becomes law.
MODULE 2: The Philippine Judiciary
Judicial power is the power to apply the laws to contests or disputes concerning legally recognized rights
or duties between the State and private persons, or between individual litigants in cases properly
brought before the judicial tribunals (De Leon, 1989).
A court is a body to which the public administration of justice is delegated, being a tribunal
officially assembled under authority of law
A judge is a public officer so named in his commission and appointed to preside and to
administer the law in a court of justice.
Roles and Responsibilities of the Philippine Judiciary
➢ Interprets the meaning of laws ➢ Decides if laws violate the Constitution
➢ Applies laws to individual cases
Powers of the Supreme Court (De Leon, 1989)
• Certiorari refers to the Special civil action requesting a lower court or body to transmit the records to
the superior court for review.
• Prohibition pertains to a written order by which a superior court commands a lower court to stop
further proceeding.
• Mandamus refers to the Order by a superior court to a lower court to perform a certain act which it is
bound to do so.
• Quo Warranto is an action by the government to recover an office or franchise from an individual or
corporation usurping or unlawfully holding it.
➢ Court of Appeals operates in seventeen divisions each comprising three members. The Court sits
enbanc only to exercise administrative, ceremonial, or other non-adjudicatory functions.
➢ Regional Trial Court is presided by Regional Trial Judges in each of the regions of the country.
➢ Metropolitan Trial Courts in each Metropolitan area established by law; a Municipal Trial Court in
every city not forming part of a metropolitan area in each of the municipalities not comprised within a
metropolitan area and municipal circuit ; and a Municipal Circuit Trial Court
Special Courts
1. Court of Tax Appeals was created under Republic Act No 1125, as amended, which has exclusive
appellate jurisdiction to review on appeal decisions of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue involving
internal revenue taxes and decisions of the Commissioner of Customs involving customs duties.
2. The Sandiganbayan was created by Presidential Decree No. 1606 pursuant to the mandate of the
1973 Constitution
LESSON 3: Nature of Elections and Political Parties
What are Elections?
Elections are a mechanism for filling government offices through choices made by the electorate. This
are crucial for political representation and are intrinsically linked to voting.
Functions of Elections:
- Recruiting Political Leaders: Elections identify individuals with skills and talents relevant to governance.
- Making Governments: In countries with elected executives, elections directly form the government.
- Providing Representation: Elections allow citizens to channel their demands to the government through
elected officials.
- Influencing Policy: Elections can hinder unpopular policies and influence policy choices.
- Educating Voters: Elections provide information about candidates, parties, and policies, potentially
influencing citizens' participation.
- Building Legitimacy: Elections justify a system of rule and promote legitimacy by encouraging citizen
participation.
- Strengthening Elites: While elections can encourage participation, they can also be manipulated by
political elites.
Electoral Systems:- An electoral system is a set of rules governing the conduct of elections.
Three Main Functions of Electoral Systems:
- Translating votes into seats. - Providing incentives for candidates to appeal
to voters.
- Holding elected representatives accountable.
Types of Electoral Systems:
Majoritarian Systems: Single-member plurality system (first-past-the-post): One representative
per district, winner needs a plurality of votes.
Second ballot system: Two rounds of voting, candidate needs a majority in the second round.
Alternative vote (AV) system: Voters rank candidates in order of preference.
Supplementary vote (SV) system: Single supplementary vote, candidate needs 50% of votes.
Proportional Systems: Additional member system: Combines single-member constituencies with
party-list system.
Single transferable vote system: Voters rank candidates preferentially in multi-member
constituencies.
Party-list system: Voters vote for parties, seats allocated proportionally to votes.
Political Parties and Party Systems: A political party is a formally organized group aiming to win
government power through elections.
Key Characteristics of Political Parties:
- Aim to exercise government power. - Goal Formation: Formulating governmental
programs and providing policy choices.
- Formally organized with membership.
- Interest Articulation and Aggregation:
- Address major areas of government policy.
Balancing competing interests and developing
- United by shared political preferences. collective goals.
- Functions of Political Parties: - Socialization and Mobilization: Educating
citizens and shaping political culture.
- Representation: Articulating and responding to
the interests of members and voters. - Organization of Government: Forming
governments, providing stability, and facilitating
- Elite Formation and Recruitment: Training cooperation between branches.
politicians and providing leaders for the state.
Major Types of Party Systems:
One-party system: Dominant-party system: One Multiparty system: Multiple
Dominated by a single party. party enjoys prolonged parties compete for power.
periods in power.
Two-party system: Two
parties dominate.
Current Structure of the Electoral System in the Philippines
- The 1987 Constitution and the Omnibus Election Code govern the electoral system.
- The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) enforces election laws.
- The President and Vice President are elected separately by direct vote.
- The Senate has 24 members elected at-large, with 12 elected every three years.
- The House of Representatives has 250 members: 200 elected through district proportional
representation and 50 elected from party-lists.
- Local government officials are elected through a plurality vote.
LESSON 4: LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT
Local Governments: Defined as political subdivisions of a state, operating at the lowest level of elected
territorial organization. Created by the national government through legislation in a unitary system like
the Philippines. Tasked with providing local public services and implementing national welfare policies.
Decentralization, Democratization, and Governance:
Decentralization: The process of transferring power from the central government to local governments
or other organizations.
Four Major Forms of Decentralization:
Deconcentration
Delegation to semi-autonomous or parastatal organizations
Devolution
Transfer of functions from the government to nongovernment institutions
- Impact of Devolution:
Devolution has led to further democratization and impacts on Philippine politics.
Observations include:
- LGUs becoming entrepreneurial.
- LGUs becoming sources of innovations in local governance.
- E-governance bringing opportunities for improved welfare delivery and development.
- LGUs becoming more assertive.
- Stronger LGU-NGO part
The Structure of Local Government
National Government: The highest level of government, responsible for creating laws,
implementing policies, and overseeing the overall administration of the country.
Province:An intermediate level of government that provides supervision to municipalities and
component cities within its jurisdiction. It also delivers certain services on behalf of the national
government.
Municipality: A basic unit of local government, responsible for providing services to its residents
and implementing national policies at the local level.
Component City: Cities that were previously municipalities but have been granted city status.
They are subject to the supervision of the province.
Barangay:The smallest unit of local government, responsible for providing direct services to its
residents and fostering community engagement.
Roles of the Local Government Unit based on Article X of the 1987 Philippine Constitution:
Section 5: This section focuses on the LGU's power to generate revenue through taxation.
Section 20: This section outlines the legislative powers granted to autonomous regions within
their territorial jurisdiction.
Section 21: This section deals with the responsibility of local police agencies for maintaining
peace and order within their regions.
