The Legislative Administration of the House of Representatives (LA-HOR)

WELCOME and WELCOME and MABUHAY ! MABUHAY !

Mr. VirGILio G. GundayaoMr. VirGILio G. Gundayao, MBA/MPA, MBA/MPAExec. Dir., Graft-Free PhilippinesExec. Dir., Graft-Free Philippines, a national project of , a national project of PhilippinePhilippine

Jaycee SenateJaycee Senate

2004 Exec. Director, Junior Chamber International (JCI) Phils.2004 Exec. Director, Junior Chamber International (JCI) Phils.

Immediate Past Exec. Director, JC Leaders InternationalImmediate Past Exec. Director, JC Leaders International

Ex-AMO, CSC Ex-AMO, CSC Mamamayan Muna, Hindi Mamaya Na! Mamamayan Muna, Hindi Mamaya Na! ProgramProgram

WELCOME & MABUHAY ! ! !

The Legislative Administration The Legislative Administration

of the House of Representatives of the House of Representatives (LA-HOR)(LA-HOR)

January 2013 * (Saturday 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM)January 2013 * (Saturday 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM)

PUP-Graduate School, Sta. Mesa, ManilaPUP-Graduate School, Sta. Mesa, Manila

WE GREATLY ACKNOWLEDGE A COMPLEAT GURU

PROF. JUAN C. BIRION, DPAPUP VICE-PRESIDENT, STUDENT SERVICES

3 BRANCHES of the

GOVERNMENT

LEGISLATIVE EXECUTIVE JUDICIARY

Principle of SEPARATION OF POWERS

- each government branch is not permitted to encroach upon the powers confided to others. Arbitrary rule would result if the same body is to exercise all the powers of the government.

.

Principle of CHECKS AND BALANCES

- authorizing a considerable amount of encroachment or checking by one branch in the affairs of the others. Each branch is given certain powers with which to check the others.

Pres.may disapprove bills enacted by CongressCongress may reject appointments by the

Pres. Judiciary may declare unconstitutional laws

enacted by the Congress.

THE PHILIPPINE CONGRESS

The The Philippine CongressPhilippine Congress is the country’s is the country’s legislative departmentlegislative department (Art. VI, Sec. 1) (Art. VI, Sec. 1)

Congress is Congress is bicameralbicameral Upper House: Upper House: SenateSenate Lower House: Lower House: House of House of RepresentativesRepresentatives

N.B.: N.B.: Senators are CongressmenSenators are Congressmen

ARTICLE VI (1987 Constitution)The House of

Representatives

SECTION 1. (Art. VI, 1987 Phil. Const.) (up to Section 32

thereof)

The legislative power shall be vested in the Congress of the Philippines which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives ….

ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF 1987 (E.O. 292)

Sec. 2. Seat of Legislative Power.

Sec. 3. Inhibitions Against Members of Congress.

Sec. 4. Electoral Tribunal.

Sec. 5. Commission on Appointments.

Sec. 6. Legislative Investigation.

Sec. 7. Appearance of Heads of Departments.

Sec. 8. Initiative and Referendum.

Sec. 9. Power to Propose Const. Amendments.

Sec. 10. Validity of Constitutional Amendments.

CONGRESSIONAL (LEGISLATIVE) POWER(1) CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE TO CREATE, PASS, REPEAL LAWS

Philippine Law-MakingPhilippine Law-Making(basic process)

Philippine Law-MakingPhilippine Law-Making(basic process)

Preparation of the Bill

First Reading Committee Action

Second Reading

Third Reading

Transmittal to Senate

Senate Action

Bicameral Conference Committee

Transmittal to President

Presidential Action

Action on Approved Bill

Action on Vetoed Bill

Senate goes through three readings; can be a parallel process

2 KINDS OF MEMBERS OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

1.) District Representative – elected directly and personally from the territorial unit he is seeking to represent.

2.) Party-list Representative – chosen indirectly, through the party he represents, which is the one voted for by the electorate. This is to give an opportunity to weak sectors to have their voices heard.

(2) REPRESENTS THE PEOPLE

SECTION 6.No person shall be a Member of the House of Representatives unless he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines and, on the day of the election, is at least twenty-five years of age, able to read and write, and, except the party-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 year immediately preceding the day of the election.

SECTION 7.The Members of the House of Representatives shall be elected for a term of three years …

No member of the House of Representatives shall serve for more than three consecutive terms…

SECTION 11.A Senator or Member of the House of Representatives shall, in all offenses punishable by not more than six years imprisonment, be privileged from arrest while the Congress is in session. No Member shall be questioned nor be held liable in any other place for any speech or debate in the Congress or in any committee thereof.

SALARIES (REFER TO THE ADJUSTED SSL)

House of Representatives

Senators 43,000 basic monthly salary (516,000 per annum) 1.3 M for salaries of staff (15.6 M per annum) 200 M Pork Barrel Funds Travel and other allowances 216.116 Million Pesos

FREEDOM from ARREST

offenses punishable by not more than six years imprisonment

while Congress is in session

FREEDOM of SPEECH and DEBATE

remarks must be made in connection with the discharge of official duties.

while Congress is in session

(3) Investigative powers(3) Investigative powers

REASON FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL PRIVILEGES…To enable members of Congress to discharge their functions

adequately and without fear. It is true that the privileges may be abused. However, the harm which would come from its abuse is considered slight compared to that which might arise if the privileges were not given.

SECTION 12.All Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives shall, upon assumption of office, make a full disclosure of their financial and business interests… They shall notify the House concerned of a potential conflict of interest that may arise from the filing of a proposed legislation of which they are authors.

SECTION 13.

No Senator or Member of the House of Representatives may hold any other office or employment in the Government…during his term without forfeiting his seat. Neither shall he be appointed to any office which may have been created or the emoluments thereof increased during the term for which he was elected.

INCOMPATIBLE OFFICE

Office which mat not be held by a member of a Congress outside the legislative department. There is a need for members to devote their time and attention to the discharge of their legislative responsibilities.

FORBIDDEN OFFICE

Office which a member of a Congress may not be a beneficiary by reason of being a participant when said office was created. Hence, a member of Congress shall not be eligible for appointment to such office even if he resigns.

SECTION 15.The Congress shall convene once every year on the fourth Monday of July for its regular session, …and shall continue to be in session for such number of days as it may determine until thirty days before the opening of its next regular session, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. The President may call a special session at any time.

SECTION 16.

(1) The Senate shall elect its President and the House of Representatives its Speaker, by a majority vote of all its respective Members.

(2) A majority of each House shall constitute a quorum to do business…

(3) Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds of all its Members, suspend or expel a Member. A penalty of suspension, when imposed, shall not exceed sixty days.

(4) Each House shall keep a Journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may, in its judgment, affect national security…

(4) JUDICIAL ‘CAPACITY’

QUORUM

- a number of membership which is competent to transact its business; is at least one-half plus one of the members of a body.

LEGISATIVE JOURNAL

- the official record of what is done and passed in a legislative assembly and the proceedings occurred from day to day.

SECTION 17.

The Senate and the House of Representatives shall each have an Electoral Tribunal which shall be the sole judge of all contests relating to the election, returns, and qualifications of their respective Members…

SECTION 18.

There shall be a Commission on Appointments… shall act on all appointments submitted to it…

SECTION 21.The Senate or the House of Representatives or any of its respective committees may conduct inquiries in aid of legislation in accordance with its duly published rules of procedure. The rights of persons appearing in or affected by such inquiries shall be respected.

SECTION 26.No bill passed by either House shall become a law unless it has passed three readings on separate days, and printed copies thereof in its final form have been distributed to its Members three days before its passage… Upon the last reading of a bill, no amendment thereto shall be allowed, and the vote thereon shall be taken immediately thereafter, and the yeas and nays entered in the Journal.

STEPS IN THE PASSAGE OF A BILLFirst Reading- reading of the number, title of the measure and name of the author

Second Reading- the bill is read in its entirety, scrutinized , debated upon and amended when desired

Third Reading- members merely register their votes and explain them. No further debate is allowed.

SECTION 27.

Every bill passed by the Congress shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the President. If he approves the same, he shall sign it; otherwise, he shall veto it and return the same with his objections to the House where it originated, which shall enter the objections at large in its Journal and proceed to reconsider it. If, after such reconsideration, two-thirds of all the Members of such House shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent…to the other House by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds of all the Members of that House, it shall become a law… The President shall communicate his veto of any bill to the House where it originated within thirty days after the date of receipt thereof; otherwise, it shall become a law as if he had signed it.

GAA APPROPRIATIONS 2011 & 2012(Amount, In thousand pesos)

FY 2012CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES................................P 9,370,140

Senate..........................................................2,853,289 Senate Electoral Tribunal........................... 105,734 Commission on Appointments........................442,971 House of Representatives...........................5,842,073 House Electoral Tribunal............................... 126,073

FY 2011CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES....................................P 8,491,338 Senate........................................................... 2,620,077 Senate Electoral Tribunal............................... 95,730 Commission on Appointments........................ 386,341 House of Representatives............................ 5,277,094 House Electoral Tribunal.............................. 112,096

(5) CAN MAKE OR BREAK GOVERNMENTS

3 WAYS WHEN A BILL MAY BECOME A LAW1.) When the President approves

the bill by signing it.2.) When the President vetoes the

bill and the same is overriden by 2/3 votes of all the members of both Houses.

3.) When the President does not communicate his veto within 30 days after the date of receipt.

Philippine House of Representatives14thCongress

•Total members: 269•Representation: 217 (81%) District; 52 (19%) Sectoral•Term Profile: 148 (55%), 1stterm; 54 (20%), 2ndterm; 67 (25%), 3rdterm•Sex:202 (75%), male; 56 (21%) female•Organization: Speaker, Deputy Speakers, Majority Leader, Minority Leader•Committees: 58 Standing Committees; 12 Special Committees

http://www.congress.gov.ph/index.php

(6) Recruitment and socialization(6) Recruitment and socialization

HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW

~House of Representatives~

1st Reading 2nd Reading 3rd Reading

DebateReferral to Committee

DebateReferral to Committee




~Senate~





~Senate~


BICAMERAL COMMITTEE




~Senate~


President





PresidentAPPROVE VETO

30 DAY PERIOD

LEDAC MEMBERSHIP

PARLIAMENTARY PRIVILEGES

Congressmen have Congressmen have two parliamentary two parliamentary privileges privileges while Congress is while Congress is in sessionin session::

1.1. Privilege from Privilege from arrestarrest Immunity Immunity from from offenses offenses punishable by not punishable by not

more than more than six years imprisonmentsix years imprisonment

2.2. Privilege of Privilege of speech speech and and debatedebate Immunity Immunity from from libel libel and and slanderslander

TRANSPARENCY

Elected Congressmen must:Elected Congressmen must:

1.1. Fully Fully disclose disclose their their financial financial and and business interestsbusiness interests

2.2. Disclose Disclose potential potential conflicts of interests conflicts of interests that arise in the course of that arise in the course of legislationlegislation

3.3. Keep fromKeep from any any other officeother office or or employmentemployment (appointed or otherwise), (appointed or otherwise), forfeit forfeit his/her his/her seat seat to do soto do so

POWERS OF CONGRESS

1.1. AppointmentAppointment of Public Officials of Public Officials

2.2. Legislative Legislative inquiryinquiry and and investigationinvestigation

3.3. DeclareDeclare the existence of a the existence of a state state of warof war

4.4. RatifyRatify the country’s the country’s international international treaties treaties ((SenateSenate))

5.5. AuthorizeAuthorize limited limited emergency emergency powerspowers for the President for the President

POWERS OF CONGRESS

6.6. ApproveApprove the government the government budgetbudget

7.7. Undertake Undertake projects projects under the under the CDFCDF

8.8. Propose, review, and adopt Propose, review, and adopt bills bills for for enactment into enactment into lawlaw

9.9. OverturnOverturn a Presidential a Presidential veto veto with with respect to proposed legislationrespect to proposed legislation

10.10. Allow for Allow for referendareferenda

11.11. Propose Propose amendmentsamendments to the to the constitution and constitution and call for a call for a constitutional constitutional conventionconvention

HOR SECRETARIATVISION & STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS

VISIONThe Secretariat of the House of Representatives is an

organization of career public servants providing comprehensive, strategic, innovative, efficient, ethical and citizen-friendly services to the House of Representatives, its Members and the general public, and committed to sustaining a work culture of excellence, continuous learning, transparency and accountability.

HOR Strategic Directions•A shared understanding, appreciation, and actualization of the Secretariat vision for a more energized performance of functions by all personnel.•Rationalizing the systems and processes, functions and organizational structure of the Secretariat.•Strengthening the linkage between Planning and Budget systems of the institution towards the optimum utilization of available resources.•Diversification of training and development programs.•Intensified use of information and communication technology for more efficient and effective delivery of organization services.•Institutionalizing mechanisms for regular interfaces of the House leadership and the Secretariat for information sharing on legislative and Secretariat concerns, and•Establishing communication and feedback mechanisms to strengthen public participation in the legislative process towards an aggressive positive projection of House image.

THE HOUSE SECRETARIATThe Secretariat provides the Members of the House with

adequate, timely, relevant and efficient administrative and technical assistance and support to enable them to perform their legislative tasks and constituent responsibilities.

The Secretariat is headed by the Secretary General. In the discharge of his duties and responsibilities, he is assisted by:

The Deputy Secretary General for Operations

The Deputy Secretary General for Committee Affairs

The Deputy Secretary General for Administration

The Deputy Secretary General for Finance

The Deputy Secretary General for Internal Audit

The Deputy Secretary General for Engineering and Physical Facilities

The Deputy Secretary General for Legal Affairs

The Director-General for the Congressional Planning & Budget Research

Congressional Budget Service, Congressional Economic Planning Service Special Projects Service, which provides technical assistance to the

Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) and assists in the formulation of the legislative agenda of the House of Representatives.

The Deputy Secretary General for Legislative Information Resources Management

Congressional Library Bureau Archives and Musuem Management Bureau

The following offices are under the Secretary General:

The Inter-Parliamentary Relations and Special Affairs Bureau

Inter-Parliamentary Relations and Travel Service, Protocol and Special Affairs ServiceExecutive Lounges

Knowledge Management Systems Bureau Information and Communication Technology Service, Planning and Management Information Service

Public Relations and Information Bureau Publishing and Design Service, Media Affairs and Public Information ServicePublic Affairs Service

LEGISLATIVE LIMITATIONS

Congress may not:Congress may not:

1.1. Increase appropriationsIncrease appropriations recommended recommended by the executive branchby the executive branch

2.2. Pass tax exemptionsPass tax exemptions without the without the concurrence of a majority of its concurrence of a majority of its membersmembers

3.3. Grant Grant titlestitles of of nobilitynobility

4.4. Pass Pass ex post facto billsex post facto bills

5.5. Pass Pass bills of attainderbills of attainder

THE HOR COMMITTEES: 58 STANDING AND 11 SPECIAL COMMITTEES (UNDER SECTIONS 27 & 28, HOR RULES)

STANDING COMMITTEES (58)

ACCOUNTS, 55 Members, chaired by Noel, Florencio

AGRARIAN REFORM, 40 Members, chaired by Teves, Pryde Henry A.

AGRICULTURE AND FOOD, 65 Members, chaired by Mendoza, Mark Llandro L.

APPROPRIATIONS, 125 Members, chaired by Abaya, Joseph Emilio A.

AQUACULTURE AND FISHERIES RESOURCES, 55 Members, chaired by Salimbangon, Benhur L.

BANKS AND FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES, 45 Members, by Apostol, Sergio F.

BASIC EDUCATION AND CULTURE, 65 Members, by (Escudero, Salvador III )

CIVIL SERVICE & PROFESSIONAL REGULATION, 35 Members, chaired by Salvacion, Andres Jr.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, 35 Members, chaired by Ocampos, Loreto S.

COOPERATIVES DEVELOPMENT, 25 Members, chaired by Ping-ay, Jose R.

DANGEROUS DRUGS, 45 Members, chaired by Belmonte, Vicente Jr. F.

ECOLOGY, 35 Members, chaired by Fernandez, Danilo Ramon S. ECONOMIC AFFAIRS, 35 Members, chaired by Durano, Ramon VI H.ENERGY, 65 Members, chaired by Abad, Henedina R.ETHICS AND PRIVILEGES, 25 Members, chaired by Aumentado, Erico B.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS, 55 Members, chaired by Bichara, Al Francis DC.GAMES AND AMUSEMENTS, 65 Members, chaired by Bagatsing, Amado S.GOOD GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY, 45 Members, chaired by Treñas, Jerry P.GOV’T ENTERPRISES & PRIVATIZATION, 35 Members, chaired by Fabian,

Erico Basilio A.GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION, 25 Members, chaired by Jalosjos, Cesar HEALTH, 65 Members, chaired by Marañon, Alfredo III D.

HIGHER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION, 65 Members, chaired by Angara, Juan Edgardo M.

HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, 55 Members, chaired by Valencia, Rodolfo G.

HUMAN RIGHTS, 35 Members, chaired by Relampagos, Rene INFO. & COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY, 55 Members, chaired by Tinga,

Sigfrido R.

NATIONAL CULTURAL COMMUNITIES, 25 Members, chaired by Brawner Baguilat, Teddy Jr.

NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY, 65 Members, chaired by Biazon, Rodolfo

NATURAL RESOURCES, 65 Members, chaired by Matugas, Francisco 'Lalo' T.

OVERSEAS WORKERS AFFAIRS, 35 Members, chaired by Bello, Walden F.

PEOPLE'S PARTICIPATION, 25 Members, chaired by Asilo, Benjamin DR.

POPULATION AND FAMILY RELATIONS, 25 Members, chaired by Espina, Rogelio J.,M.D.

POVERTY ALLEVIATION, 25 Members, chaired by Mendoza, Raymond Democrito C.

INTERPARLIAMENTARY RELATIONS & DIPLOMACY, 45 Members, chaired by Ortega, Victor Francisco C.

JUSTICE, 55 Members, chaired by Tupas, Niel Jr. C.LABOR & EMPLOYMENT, 40 Members, chaired by Ong, Emil LEGISLATIVE FRANCHISES, 45 Members, chaired by Teodoro, Marcelino RLOCAL GOVERNMENT, 55 Members, chaired by Arnaiz, George P.METRO MANILA DEVELOPMENT, 30 Members, chaired by Ejercito, JVictor G.MINDANAO AFFAIRS, 60 Members, chaired by Go, Arnulfo F.MUSLIM AFFAIRS, 20 Members, chaired by Loong, Tupay T.

PUBLIC INFORMATION, 35 Members, chaired by Evardone, Ben P.

PUBLIC ORDER AND SAFETY, 55 Members, chaired by Garcia, Pablo John F.

PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS, 95 Members, chaired by Cosalan, Ronald M.

REVISION OF LAWS, 25 Members, chaired by Primicias-Agabas, Marlyn L.

RULES, 30 Members, chaired by Gonzales, Neptali II M. (Majority Leader)

RURAL DEVELOPMENT, 25 Members, chaired by Enverga, Wilfrido Mark M.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, 35 Members, chaired by Ledesma, Julio IV A.

SMALL BUSINESS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEV’T, 25 Members, chaired by Casiño, Teddy A.

SOCIAL SERVICES, 35 Members, chaired by Robes, Arturo B.

SUFFRAGE AND ELECTORAL REFORMS, 35 Members, chaired by Barzaga, Elpidio Jr.

TOURISM, 55 Members, chaired by Miraflores, Florencio T.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY, 55 Members, chaired by Garcia, Albert Raymond S.

TRANSPORTATION, 85 Members, chaired by Mercado, Roger G.

VETERANS AFFAIRS AND WELFARE, 30 Members, chaired by Roman, Herminia B.

WAYS AND MEANS, 75 Members, chaired by Ungab, Isidro T.

WELFARE OF CHILDREN, 20 Members, chaired by Enerio-Cerilles, Aurora

WOMEN AND GENDER EQUALITY, 55 Members, chaired by Amante-Matba, Angelica

YOUTH AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT, 35 Members, chaired by Unico, Renato Jr. J.

SPECIAL COMMITTEES (11)

(under Sec. 33, HOR Rules)

BASES CONVERSION, Agyao, Manuel S.

BICOL RECOVERY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, Fortuno, Salvio B.

EAST ASEAN GROWTH AREA, Arenas, Ma. Rachel J.

FOOD SECURITY, Guanlao, Agapito H.

GLOBALIZATION AND WTO, Cajayon, Mary Mitzi L.

LAND USE, Ferrer, Jeffrey P.

MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS, Marcos, Imelda R.

NORTH LUZON GROWTH QUADRANGLE, Dalog, Maximo B.

PEACE, RECONCILIATION AND UNITY, Sacdalan, Jesus N.

REFORESTATION, Yu, Victor J.

SOUTHERN TAGALOG DEVELOPMENT, Rodriguez, Isidro Jr. S.

THE PARTY LIST

SELECTED PROBLEMS & ISSUES1.Political Dynasty2.Oversight Function3.Impeachment4.CDF/PDAF or Pork Barrel5.Party System

POLITICAL DYNASTY/IESHOW DID THEY EMERGE?

Political dynasties are observed to have began in the early 20th century during the American colonial period when voting was limited to rich and landed Filipinos who monopolized public office. In other words, the lopsided structure of opportunities and the social and economic inequalities allow a few --both in the administration and opposition --to monopolize wealth and political power.

HOW DID THEY EMERGE?

Today, political dynasties are supposed to be prohibited by the

Constitution. Sec. 26 Art. II of the 1987 Constitution states:

" The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for

public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined

by law."

HOW DID THEY EMERGE?

Though this prohibition does exist, an enabling law is needed . Since 1987, the anti-political dynasty bills filed never got to first base. Why? Most lawmakers from the administration and opposition oppose the Constitutional ban on political dynasties because they too, come from political dynasties and clans, which have been long entrenched in power. New political dynasties have also risen to challenge the traditional political clans in their bailiwicks.

WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLITICAL DYNASTIES AND THE CURRENT MAINSTREAM POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE PHILIPPINES?Political parties are in fact convenient but temporary

alliances of political dynasties or political clans. The

basis of their alliances are not because of principles

or party platforms, but may be based on marriage,

business connections, or political accommodation ,

etc.

• Since there is an absence of ideology of these elite parties and the

similarity of their pro-oligarchy and pro-U.S. positions, their

members often resort to turncoatism and party-switching. For their

loyalty to a particular alliance of elite parties depend on the political

patronage and spoils available that in fact determine the alignment

and re-alignment of these parties.

• Political parties thus are actually

alliances among the economic and

social elites/class who have no coherent

principle or program. They thrive on

money machinery, political spoils from

the incumbent, access to power and

patronage politics. They assure the

monopoly of political power by the

economic elite. The vaunted machinery

of a bloc of political parties allied with

the administration means the use of

pork barrel, patronage, cash, violence

and cheating in elections, misusing the

infrastructure of the state.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF POLITICAL DYNASTIC RULE ON PHILIPPINE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, ON OUR COMMUNITIES, AND NATIONHOOD IN GENERAL?• Political dynasties distort governance, and make a

sham of democratic governance. Thru political

dynasties, public office becomes an exclusive family

franchise, a provider of more benefits to family

interests. When family members from a single clan

dominate political positions in a particular area, we

can expect the weakening of checks and balances,

and the wanton abuse of power that is detrimental

to the community or national interest.

• More studies are needed to study

empirically the political disease

called cronyism, and to show how

fundamentally, politics and business

fortunes are so much intertwined.

Business empires or big business in

general needs to be critically

reexamined to see how big business

is really done, i.e. how business

elites or family interests wheel and

deal in the political system.

This goes against the grain of

competition and fair trade and

violates the very principles even of a

neoliberal economic system.

Characterizing the Philippine Legislature…•Patronage politics

-political families-familial kinship by blood or ritual (compadrazgo)•Economic power begets political power

-land owning class: traditional source-entrepreneurial & ‘yuppie’ class: new source•Political turncoatism or balimbing•Intra-elite conflict..\..\DVDVideoSoft\FreeYouTubeDownload\PHILIPPINE SENATE -SENATORS WASTEFUL SESSIONS.mp4

CONCLUDING STATEMENTQUOTING APOLINARIO MABINI

“Society…should have a ruling spirit and authority. This authority should have a reason to guide it—the Legislature; it should have a will to act and function—the Executive; it should a conscience to judge and punish the wrong-doers—the Judiciary.

These powers should be independent of each other,--that is to say, no one of them should interfere with the prerogative of the other…”

REFERENCES

Paras, Corazon L., The Speakers of the Philippine Legislative Branch, Fil-Asia Printerss, 1996.

Executive Order No. 292, The Administrative Code of 1987.

The 197 Philippine Constitution.

Prof. Lourdes Veneracion-Rallonza, PhD, Department of Political Science, Ateneode Manila University,, The Legislative Branch, presentation.

House of Representatives (HOR) Rules

THANK YOU!

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The Legislative Administration of the House of Representatives (LA-HOR)