ST.

ALOYSIUS GONZAGA PAROCHIAL SCHOOL

GUINAYANGAN, QUEZON

Content
Module 6: Philippine Politics and Governance
Lesson 2: Democracy in the Philippines
Lesson 3: Functions of the Executive Branch
Lesson 4: Functions of the Legislative Branch
Lesson 5: Function of the Judicial Branch

OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
1. Discuss the development of democracy in the Philippines
2. Compare the 1973 and 1987 Constitution
3. Enumerate the roles the Philippine president
4. Assess the performance of the Philippine Congress;
5. Articulate a position or advocacy to a Philippine legislator through a formal correspondence

HOOK
Our Father
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit

Our Father, who art in heaven……

“Being a President is like riding a tiger. A man has to keep on riding or he is swallowed”.
-Harry S. Truman

According to Harry S. Truman, what does this statement mean?

ENGAGE
Last module we already discuss the Politics in Pre-Spanish to Spanish Period and for this module, we are going
to discuss Democracy in the Philippines, Functions of Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branch. For
further information open your book on page 44-64.

Democracy was introduced in the Philippines during the late 19 th century following the opening of the
country’s economy to the world in 1834 and the consequent inflow and outflow of ideas and people along trade
goods.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE

The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines, as in past constitutions, vested the power of government on the
legislative, executive, and the judiciary.

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The Legislative Power is vested in the Congress of the Philippines which shall consist of a Senate and a House
of Representatives, except to the extent reserved to the people by the provision on initiative and referendum.

The Executive Power is vested in the President of the Philippines, and;

The Judicial Power is vested in one Supreme Court and in such lower courts as may be established by law.

Executive Branch
The Executive branch is headed by the President in the Philippine government.
Qualifications to become President
The qualifications for an individual aspiring to become the President of the Philippines are outlined in Article
VII, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution. According to the constitution, an individual may become President
provided he meets the following criteria:
1. natural born Filipino;
2. a registered voter;
3. must be able to read and write;
4. 40 years of age at the day of the election; and
5. must have resided in the Philippines ten years before the election is held.
Legislative Branch
The upper house (senate) and the lower houses (house of representative)
Article VI, Section 2 of the Constitution provides:
The Senate shall be composed of twenty-four Senators with Senate President, who shall be elected at large by
the qualified voters of the Philippines, as may be provided by law.
Basta tatandaan nyo na kapag sinabing upper house, ibig sabihin yon ay Senate or dun mo makikita ang list ng
mga Senators

Qualifications to Become Senators

Section 3, Art. VI of the Constitution as follows:

1. natural-born citizen of the Philippines, and on the day of the election,

2. at least thirty-five years of age,
3. able to read and write,
4. a registered voter,
5. resident of the Philippines for not less than two years immediately preceding the day of the election.

House of Representatives

The Constitution provides that the House of Representatives shall be composed of not more than two hundred
and fifty (250) members, unless otherwise fixed by law, who shall be elected from legislative districts
apportioned among the provinces, cities, and the Metropolitan Manila area in accordance with the number of
their respective inhabitants, and on the basis of a uniform and progressive ratio, and those who, as provided by
law, shall be elected through a party-list system of registered national, regional, and sectoral parties or
organizations. The party-list representatives shall constitute twenty per cent (20%) of the total number of
representatives including those under the party list.

Dito sa House of Representatives nyo naman makikita yong mga Congressmen/Congresswoman. Kung
mapapansin nyo 250 sila lahat, at may makikita kayo na 20% so ganito yon, Meron tayong 200 Representatives
per district tapos yong 50 ay elected at nag re represent sa mga Partylist, halimbawa Anakpawis representative
so, nag aattend sila ay kapag session ng lower house, dahil kabilang sila sa mga Congressmen/woman. Ito
naman yong lower house.

Qualifications to Become a member of House of Representatives

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1. natural-born citizen of the Philippines and, on the day of the election,

2. at least twenty-five (25) years of age,
3. able to read and write, and, except the party list representatives,
4. a registered voter in the district in which he shall be elected,
5. resident thereof for a period of not less than one year immediately proceeding the day of the election.

The Members of the House of Representatives shall be elected for a term of three years, and shall serve for no
more than three consecutive terms.

Judiciary Branch
Article 8 Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution The judicial power shall be vested in one Supreme Court
and in such lower courts as may be established by law.
Judicial power includes the duty of the courts of justice to settle actual controversies involving rights which are
legally demandable and enforceable, and to determine whether or not there has been a grave abuse of discretion
amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of any branch or instrumentality of the Government.

Dito sa Judicial Branch naman ay in-charge sa paglilitis ng mga nagkasala sa batas. In charge sila sa mga cases.
Ang gumagawa ng batas ay ang mga legislature o ang upper and lower house, samantalang ang executive o
President ang nag a approve nito. Ang Judicial naman ang nag e interpret o nagsasala ng batas, upang mas
maging malinaw ang isang batas.

Court of Appeals

The Court of Appeals is the second highest tribunal in the country, which was established on February 1, 1936
by virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 3. The current form of the Court of Appeals was constituted through Batas
Pambansa Blg. 129, as amended by Executive Order No. 33, s. 1986, Republic Act No. 7902, and Republic
Act No. 8246.

Dito yong halimbawa tapos ng litisin ang isang kaso sa Regional Trial Court so ipapasa naman yon sa Court of
Appeals para pag-aralan. Then dito din ni re review yong qualification ng justices sa Supreme Court.

Court of Tax Appeals

The Court of Tax Appeals (CTA), which is of the same level as the Court of Appeals, was created by virtue of
Republic Act No. 1125, which was signed into law on June 16, 1954. Its present-day form was constituted
through R.A 1125, as amended by Republic Act No. 9282 and Republic Act No. 9503.

Dito naman nililitis yong halimbawa sa mga revenues o pagbabayad ng tax o hindi nakapagbayad ng tax.
Halimbawa sa isang ahensya ng gobyerno nagkaroon ng katiwalian, lets say sa Philhealth so ang Court of Tax
Appeal ang mag a address ng problema na yon o maglilitis.

Sandiganbayan

To attain the highest norms of official conduct among officials and employees in the government, the creation
of a special graft court to be known as the Sandiganbayan was provided for in Article XIII, Section 5 of the
1973 Constitution. This court was formally established through Presidential Decree No. 1606, which was
signed into law on December 10, 1978.

Through Article XI (Accountability), The Sandiganbayan comprises of one presiding justice and 14 associate
justices, all of which are appointed by the President from a shortlist submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council.
The associate justices shall have precedence according to the dates (or order, in case of similar appointment
dates) of their respective appointments.

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Kapag ang isang government official ay nagkasala ang kanilang kaso ay nililitis sa Sandiganbayan. Tandaan na
kapag government officials sa Sandiganbayan nagkakaron ng paglilitis.

The qualifications to become a member of the Sandiganbayan are as follows:

1. a natural-born citizen of the Philippines;

2. at least 40 years of age
3. has been a judge of a court for at least ten years, or been engaged in the practice of law in the
Philippines or has held office requiring admission to the bar as a prerequisite for at least ten years.

ACTIVITY
Activity 1
Compare the different provisions of the 1973 Constitution during the Martial Law era with the 1987
Constitution that is being observed up to present. You may consult at the copy of your 1973 and 1987
Constitution copy.

1973 Constitution 1987 Constitution

Activity 2
A. Write down the names of the president of the Philippines in chronological order.
1. ________________________________ 9. _____________________________________
2. ________________________________ 10. ____________________________________
3. ________________________________ 11. ____________________________________
4. ________________________________ 12. ____________________________________
5. ________________________________ 13. ____________________________________
6. ________________________________ 14. ____________________________________
7. ________________________________ 15. ____________________________________
8. ________________________________ 16. ____________________________________

Activity 3
Identify the following items. Rearrange the jumbled letters to come up with the correct answer. Write your
answer on the blank before each number.
_________________________1. The court that handles graft and corruption cases of government employees.
(NASANYDIABNGA)
_________________________2. This person appoints the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. (TEENSIRPD)
_________________________3. This court handles the appointment of judges to various lower courts.
(PERMESU TURCO)
_________________________4. This court reviews decisions and orders of the Regional Trial Courts.
(TURCO FO PAEPALS)
_________________________5. The establishment or determination of rights according to the rules of law,
which judicial branch tries to provide the people. (SICEUJT)

REFLECTION
Think of a current issue in your community. Make a proposal for a law that may address the problem. Write
your answer in a short bond paper.
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GUINAYANGAN, QUEZON

TRANSFER
Draw a symbol that represents the current government based on the common things that you hear about it.
Write a brief explanation about the symbol. Write your answer in a short bond paper

References: Philippine Politics and Governance pages 43-62

www.officialgazette.gov.ph/about/gov/judiciary

See you on our next module!

Glory Be

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…

Parents signature over printed name