ARTICLE VI

THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

Section 1.
The legislative power shall be vested in the Congress of the Philippines which shall
consist of a Senate and a o!se of Representatives" e#cept to the e#tent reserved to
the people b$ the provision on initiative and referend!%.
Section &.
The Senate shall be co%posed of twent$'fo!r Senators who shall be elected at large
b$ the (!alified voters of the Philippines" as %a$ be provided b$ law.
Section ).
*o person shall be a Senator !nless he is a nat!ral'born citi+en of the Philippines
and" on the da$ of the election" is at least thirt$'five $ears of age" able to read and
write" a registered voter" and a resident of the Philippines for not less than two $ears
i%%ediatel$ preceding the da$ of the election.
Section ,.
The ter% of office of the Senators shall be si# $ears and shall co%%ence" !nless
otherwise provided b$ law" at noon on the thirtieth da$ of -!ne ne#t following their
election. *o Senator shall serve for %ore than two consec!tive ter%s. Vol!ntar$
ren!nciation of the office for an$ length of ti%e shall not be considered as an
interr!ption in the contin!it$ of his service for the f!ll ter% of which he was elected.
Section ..
/10 The o!se of Representatives shall be co%posed of not %ore than two h!ndred
and fift$ %e%bers" !nless otherwise fi#ed b$ law" who shall be elected fro%
legislative districts apportioned a%ong the provinces" cities" and the 1etropolitan
1anila area in accordance with the n!%ber of their respective inhabitants" and on the
basis of a !nifor% and progressive ratio" and those who" as provided b$ law" shall be
elected thro!gh a part$'list s$ste% of registered national" regional" and sectoral parties
or organi+ations.
/&0 The part$'list representatives shall constit!te twent$ per centum of the total
n!%ber of representatives incl!ding those !nder the part$ list. 2or three consec!tive
ter%s after the ratification of this Constit!tion" one'half of the seats allocated to part$'
list representatives shall be filled" as provided b$ law" b$ selection or election fro%
the labor" peasant" !rban poor" indigeno!s c!lt!ral co%%!nities" wo%en" $o!th" and
s!ch other sectors as %a$ be provided b$ law" e#cept the religio!s sector.
/)0 Each legislative district shall co%prise" as far as practicable" contig!o!s" co%pact"
and ad3acent territor$. Each cit$ with a pop!lation of at least two h!ndred fift$
tho!sand" or each province" shall have at least one representative.
/,0 4ithin three $ears following the ret!rn of ever$ cens!s" the Congress shall %a5e a
reapportion%ent of legislative districts based on the standards provided in this section.
Section 6.
*o person shall be a 1e%ber of the o!se of Representatives !nless he is a nat!ral'
born citi+en of the Philippines and" on the da$ of the election" is at least twent$'five
$ears of age" able to read and write" and" e#cept the part$'list representatives" a
registered voter in the district in which he shall be elected" and a resident thereof for a
period of not less than one $ear i%%ediatel$ preceding the da$ of the election.
Section 7.
The 1e%bers of the o!se of Representatives shall be elected for a ter% of three
$ears which shall begin" !nless otherwise provided b$ law" at noon on the thirtieth da$
of -!ne ne#t following their election. *o 1e%ber of the o!se of Representatives
shall serve for %ore than three consec!tive ter%s. Vol!ntar$ ren!nciation of the office
for an$ length of ti%e shall not be considered as an interr!ption in the contin!it$ of
his service for the f!ll ter% for which he was elected.
Section 8.
9nless otherwise provided b$ law" the reg!lar election of the Senators and the
1e%bers of the o!se of Representatives shall be held on the second 1onda$ of
1a$.
Section :.
In case of vacanc$ in the Senate or in the o!se of Representatives" a special election
%a$ be called to fill s!ch vacanc$ in the %anner prescribed b$ law" b!t the Senator or
1e%ber of the o!se of Representatives th!s elected shall serve onl$ for the
!ne#pired ter%.
Section 1;.
The salaries of Senators and 1e%bers of the o!se of Representatives shall be
deter%ined b$ law. *o increase in said co%pensation shall ta5e effect !ntil after the
e#piration of the f!ll ter% of all the 1e%bers of the Senate and the o!se of
Representatives approving s!ch increase.
Section 11.
A Senator or 1e%ber of the o!se of Representatives shall" in all offenses p!nishable
b$ not %ore than si# $ears i%prison%ent" be privileged fro% arrest while the
Congress is in session. *o 1e%ber shall be (!estioned nor be held liable in an$ other
place for an$ speech or debate in the Congress or in an$ co%%ittee thereof.
Section 1&.
All 1e%bers of the Senate and the o!se of Representatives shall" !pon ass!%ption
of office" %a5e a f!ll disclos!re of their financial and b!siness interests. The$ shall
notif$ the o!se concerned of a potential conflict of interest that %a$ arise fro% the
filing of a proposed legislation of which the$ are a!thors.