STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION: THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS

How Bill Becomes a Law

First Reading is the process where the

bills title is read in plenary session and is
referred to a particular committee.
Public hearing is conducted by the
committee
where
arguments
for
advocates and opposition are heard.
A Committee Report is then transmitted
to the floor for the second reading.
In Second Reading, the bill undergoes:
o Sponsorship
It is where the essential and
salient features of the bill
are presented to underscore
the
rationale
of
bills
enactment.
It is usually done by the
Chair of the committee from
which it was reported out;
sometimes by the principal
individual author.
o Interpellation
It is where arguments of
lawmakers in opposition are
heard.
Period where the provisions
of
proposed
measure
undergo
changes

oftentimes to conform with

the Constitution, existing
policy and to cleanse it of
legal loopholes once it is
passed as a law.
o Amendment
Committee Amendments
are those formulated by the
Committee or Committees
that reported out the bill
which are usually indicated
in the committee report.
Individual Amendments
are
proposed
by
the
individual
legislators
in
plenary session.

Third Reading is where the bill is read

again and voted upon.
If passed, the bill is transmitted to other
chamber and will undergo the same
procedure.
If the other chamber has similar bill, the
disagreeing provisions of the two versions
shall be compromised in a bicameral
conference and the reconciled version will
be indicated in the bicameral conference
committee report.
Enrolled bill refers to the final copy of
the proposed measure as approved by
both members of Congress and has been
held to be conclusive upon the courts.
If passed, the enrolled bill is transmitted to
the Office of the President.
NOTE: Every bill passed by the
congress must be presented to the
president.
If he approves, he will sign it or may allow
it to lapse for 30 days into law.
If he does not approve, he will veto it and
return the same with his objections to the
House where it originated, which shall
enter the objections into journal and then
proceed to reconsider it.
NOTE: The president shall have
the power to veto any particular
item or items in an appropriation,
revenue or tariff, but the veto shall
not affect the item or items he
does not object.
If after reconsideration, 2/3 of all the
members of such house agree to pass the
bill, it shall be reconsidered in the other
chamber and if approved by 2/3 of its
members, it will become a law.
NOTE: Votes are cast by yeas and
nays and names are entered in
journal.

THE ENROLLED BILL THEORY

NOTE: Such amendments may or

may not be accepted. If deadlock
ensues, a division of the house will
be called.

It states that the text of the law, as passed and

approved, is deemed importing absolute verity
and is binding courts.
NOTES:

STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION: THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS

Enrolled copy of bill is printed on white

vellum paper.
Such copy prepared by Congress and
signed by the respective leaders (senate
president
and
house
speaker)
is
conclusive not only of its provisions but
also of its enactment.
If there is discrepancy between journal
and enrolled copy of bill, the latter shall
prevail.
Enrolled bill is the culmination of a
legislative process as far as one
chamber is concerned and shall be
inviolable.

EXCEPTION:
Senate
President
and
Speaker of the House may withdraw their
signatures where there exists substantial
discrepancy between text of bill as
deliberated in the legislature and shown
by the journal.
o ONCE
WITHDRAWN,
IT
RENDERS THE BILL WITHOUT
ATTESTATION AND NULLIFIES
ITS STATUS AS AN ENROLLED
BILL.