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Disclaimer COMPOSITION:
1. President of Senate as ex officio Chairman
2. 12 Senators
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3. 12 Reps
Act on all appointments within 30 session days of Congress from their submission
Popular Posts Majority vote of all members
The LDP has been in existence for more than one year now. It now has 157 members in the House
of Representatives and 6 members in the Senate. Its titular head is no less than the President of
the Philippines and its President is Senator Neptali A. Gonzales, who took over recently from
Speaker Ramon V. Mitra. It is true that there have been, and there still are, some internal
disagreements among its members, but these are to be expected in any political organization,
especially if it is democratic in structure. In fact even the monolithic Communist Party in a
number of socialist states has undergone similar dissension, and even upheavals. But it surely
cannot be considered still temporary because of such discord.
If the petitioner's argument were to be pursued, the 157 members of the LDP in the House of
Representatives would have to be denied representation in the Commission on Appointments and,
for that matter, also the Electoral Tribunal. By the same token, the KBL, which the petitioner says
is now "history only," should also be written off. The independents also cannot be represented
because they belong to no political party. That would virtually leave the Liberal Party only with
all of its seventeen members to claim all the twelve seats of the House of Representatives in the
Commission on Appointments and the six legislative seats in the House Electoral Tribunal.
It is noteworthy that when with 41 members the Liberal Party was alloted two of the seats in the
Commission on Appointments, it did not express any objection. Inconsistently, the petitioner is
now opposed to the withdrawal from it of one seat although its original number has been cut by
more than half.
As for the other condition suggested by the petitioner, to wit, that the party must survive in a
general congressional election, the LDP has doubtless also passed that test, if only vicariously. It
may even be said that as it now commands the biggest following in the House of Representatives,
the party has not only survived but in fact prevailed. At any rate, that test was never laid down in
Cunanan.
KINDS OF APPOINTMENT:
Regular – requires concurrence of CA; if revoked by CA, can return to his old post but
cannot be reappointed; if bypassed by CA, reappointment is allowed
Ad Interim – permanent and effective until revoked or disapproved by CA; if revoked by CA,
cannot return to his old post or be reappointed; if bypassed, the appointment shall only last
until the next adjournment of Congress and official may be reappointed to the same position
Temporary – appointments in acting capacity; no need for concurrence of CA and shall last
only for a period not exceeding one year
Legislative Inquiries/Investigations
KINDS:
1. In Aid of Legislation (Sec. 21)
2. Question Hour (Sec. 22)
In Aid of Legislation
CONDITIONS:
Must be in aid of legislation – either in making a new legislation or improving a defective
one
The rules and regulations providing for its conduct must be duly published
The rights of individuals must be respected (e.g. right against self-incrimination)
Question Hour – Congress may summon heads of executive departments to shed light on
certain matters in aid of legislation or the heads may appear before Congress upon their own
initiative with approval of the President; either in the Congressional Chamber or the Executive
Office
Sec. 23: Power to Declare Existence of War and Delegate Emergency Powers
Q: Does Sec. 24 violate the co-equality between the House Reps and Senate?
A: No, because the Senate can still file ahead of the House Reps any of the bills mentioned above.
However, they must withhold any action on the bill until it has received the version filed by the House
of Reps.
Appropriation Bill – a statue the primary and specific purpose of which is to authorize the
release of funds from the treasury
Q: Can a law creating an office and at the same time provide for disbursement of funds
be considered an appropriation bill?
A: No, because the main purpose of that law is not the disbursement of funds but the creation of an
office.
) NOTA BENE:
Certification from the National Treasurer is needed in order to avoid “sub rosa” appropriation, wherein a
special appropriations measure is done even though the funds are not available.
But a special appropriation bill may be filed even if there is no budget yet so long as there is an
accompanying revenue proposal on how to raise the funds.
Tax/Revenue – enforced proportional contributions from persons and property, levied by the
State by virtue of its sovereignty, for the support of government and for public needs
Discretionary Funds
CONDITIONS:
Disbursed for a public purpose
Duly supported by appropriate vouchers
Subject to guidelines prescribed by law
Transfer of Funds
GR: transfer of funds is not allowed
EXC: if the transfer is only within one department, or if there is surplus or savings and the
transfer is for the purpose of augmenting any item in the appropriation law
REQUIREMENTS:
1. One subject per title – to prevent hodgepodge or logrolling legislation wherein many
subjects are contained in a single bill in order to accommodate some subjects that cannot
possibly pass through a single bill on its own and so that greater support for the bill is
garnered
2. Subject of the bill must be expressed in the title – to prevent surprise or fraud beause some
members of Congress might not be able to read the whole bill; a way of informing the public
of what the bill is all about
3. Some bills must originate EXCLUSIVELY from the House of Reps
4. 3 readings on 3 separate days and printing and distribution at least 3 days before final
approval – EXCEPTION: when the President certifies the necessity of its immediate
enactment to meet a public calamity or emergency
) NOTA BENE:
Logrolling legislation is sought to be prevented in order to avoid a situation wherein what had been
disapproved if taken on its own, may be approved because it was lumped in a favorable subject.
It is enough that the title must be able to state what the bill is all about, without necessarily enumerating
the details of the bill.
Presidential certification dispenses with both the 3-day printing and the 3 readings on 3 separate days. But
the bill must still go through 3 readings, which may be done on the same day. This is not subject to judicial
review, as a general rule, because there is no factual basis of grave abuse of discretion to speak of.
INAPPROPRIATE PROVISIONS:
Any provision that does not relate to a particular, distinctive appropriation or item; in such a
case, the inappropriate provision shall be treated as an item and therefore can be vetoed
Any provision blocking admnistrative action in implementing the law or requiring legislative
approval for executive action
Any provision that is unconstitutional
Any provision that amends a certain law
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