CONCEPTS and PROVISIONS
and the yeas and nays on any
Batch 2
1987 Constitution
Article VI
Legislative Department
Section 1.​ The legislative power shall
be vested in the Congress of the
Philippines which shall consist of a
Senate and a House of
Representative, except to the extent
reserved to the people by the
provision on initiative and
referendum.
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. Each House shall choose
such other officers as it may deem
necessary.
(2) ​A majority of each House
shall constitute a quorum to do
business, but a smaller number may
adjourn from day to day and may
compel the attendance of absent
Members in such manner, and under
such penalties, as such House may
provide.
(3) ​Each House may determine
the rules of its proceedings, punish its
Members for disorderly behavior, and
, with the concurrence of two-thirds
(2/3)​ ​of all its Members, suspend or
expel a Member. A penalty of
suspension, when imposed, shall not
exceed sixty ​(60)​ ​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
judgement, affect national security;
question shall, at the request of
one-fifth ​(1/5)​ of the Members
present, be entered in the Journal.
Each House shall also keep a Record
of its proceedings.
(5) ​Neither House during the
sessions of the Congress shall,
without the consent of the other,
adjourn for more than three ​(3)​ ​days,
nor to any other place than that in
which the two ​(2) ​Houses shall be
sitting.
Section 24. ​All appropriation,
revenue, or tariff bills, bills
authorizing increase of the public
debt, bills of local application, and
private bills, shall originate exclusively
in the House of Representatives but
the Senate may propose or concur
with amendments.
Section 25. ​(1) ​The Congress may not
increase the appropriations
recommended nu the President for
the operation of the Government as
specified in the budget. The form,
content, and manner of preparation
of the budget shall be prescribed by
law.
(2)​ No provision or enactment
shall be embraced in the general
appropriations bill unless it relates
specifically to some particular
appropriation therein. Any such
provision or enactment shall be
limited in its operation to the
appropriation to which it relates.
(3)​ The procedure in
approving appropriations for the
Congress shall strictly follow the
procedure for approving
appropriations for other
departments and agencies.
(4)​ A special appropriations
bill shall specify the purpose for
which it is intended, and shall be
supported by funds actually available
as certified by the National Treasurer
or to be raised bu a corresponding
revenue proposal therein.
(5)​ No law shall be passed
authorizing any transfer of
appropriations; however, the
President, the President of the
Senate, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, the Chief Justice of
the Supreme Court, and the heads of
Constitutional Commissions may, by
law, be authorized to augment any
item in the general appropriations
law for their respective offices from
savings in other items of their
respective appropriations.
(6)​ Discretionary funds
appropriated for particular officials
shall be disbursed only for public
purposes to be supported by
appropriate vouchers and subject to
such guidelines as may be prescribed
by law.
(7)​ If by the end of any fiscal
year, the Congress shall have failed to
pass the general appropriations bill
for the ensuing fiscal year, the
general appropriations law for the
preceding fiscal year shall be deemed
re-enacted and shall remain in force
and effect until the general
appropriations bill is passed by the
Congress.
Section 26. ​(1)​ Every bill passed b the
Congress shall embrace only one
subject which shall be expressed in
the title thereof.
(2) ​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, except when the
President certifies to the necessity of
its immediate enactment to meet a
public calamity or emergency. Upon
the last reading of a bill, no
amendment thereto shall be allowed,
and the vote theron shall be taken
immediately thereafter, and the yeas
and nays entered in the Journal.
Section 27. ​(1)​ 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 ​(2/3)​ of all the Members
of such House shall agree to pass the
bill, it shall be sent, together with the
objections, to the other House by
which it shall likewise be
reconsidered, and if approved by
two-thirds ​(2/3)​ of all the Members
of that House, it shall become a law.
In all such cases, the votes of each
House shall be determined by yeas or
nays, and the names of the Members
voting for or against shall be entered
in its Journal. The President shall
communicate his veto of any bull to
the House where it originated within
 thirty ​(30)​ ​days after the date of
receipt thereof; otherwise, it shall
become a law as if he had signed it.
(2)​ The President shall have
the power to veto any particular item
or items in an appropriation revenue,
or tariff bill, but the veto shall not
affect the item or items to which he
does not object.
Section 30. ​No law shall be passed
increasing the appellate jurisdiction
of the Supreme Court as provided in
this Constitution without its advise
and concurrence.
suspended nor the special election
postponed. No special election shall be
called if the vacancy occurs within
eighteen months before the date of the
next presidential election.
Batch 3
1. When Statutes Become Effective
Civil Code
Article 2. ​Laws shall take effect after
fifteen ​(15)​ ​days following the completion of
its publication either in the ​Official Gazette​,
or in a newspaper of general circulation in
the Philippines, unless it is otherwise
provided.

Section 31.​ No law granting a title of

Administrative Code
royalty or nobility shall be enacted.
Book I
Article VII Chapter 5
Section 18. ​When Laws Take Effect​ -
Executive Department
Laws shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
Section 10. ​The Congress shall, at ten
following the completion of its publication in
o’clock in the morning ​(10:00 AM)​ ​of the
the ​Official Gazette​, or in a newspaper of
third ​(3rd)​ ​day after the vacancy in the
general circulation in the Philippines, unless
offices of the President and
it is otherwise provided.
Vice-President occurs, convene in
accordance with its rules without need of
Chapter 6
a call and within seven ​(7)​ days, enact a
Section 24. ​Contents.​ - There shall
law calling for a special election to elect a
be published in the Official Gazette all
President and a Vice-President to be held
legislative acts and resolutions of a public
not earlier than forty-five ​(45)​ ​days nor
nature; all executive and administrative
later than sixty days ​(60)​from the time of
issuances of general application; decisions or
such call. The bill calling such special
abstracts of decisions of the Supreme Court
election shall be deemed certified under
and the Court of Appeals, or other courts of
paragraph 2, Section 26. Article VI​ of this
similar rank, as may be deemed by said
Constitution ​and shall become law upon
courts of sufficient importance to be so
its approval on third ​(3rd)​ reading by the
published; such documents or classes of
Congress. Appropriations for the special
documents as may be required so to be
election shall be exempt from the
published by law; and such documents or
requirements of​ paragraph 4, Section 25,
classes of documents as the President shall
Article VI​ of this ​Constitution​. The
determine from time to time to have general
convening of the Congress cannot be
application or which he may authorize so to
be published.
The publication of any law, resolution
or other official documents in the Official
Gazette shall be prima facie evidence of its
authority.net
Section 25. ​Editing and Publications
- The Official Gazette shall be edited in the
Office of the President and published weekly
in Pilipino or in the English language. It shall
be sold and distributed by the National
Printing Office which shall promptly mail
copies thereof to subscribers free of postage.
2. When Regulation Becomes Effective
Administrative Code
Book VII - ​Administrative Procedure
Chapter 1 - ​General Provisions
Section 2. ​Definitions.​ - As used in this
Book:
(1) “Agency” includes any department,
bureau, office, commission, authority
or officer of the National Government
authorized by law or executive order
to make rules, issue licenses, grant
rights or privileges, and adjudicate
cases; research institutions with
respect to licensing functions;
government corporations with
respect to functions regulating
private right, privileges, occupation or
business; and officials in the exercise
of disciplinary power as provided by
law.
(2) “Rule” means any agency statement
of general applicability that
implements or interprets a law, fixes
and describes the procedures in, or
practice requirements of an agency,
including its regulations. The term
includes memoranda or statements
concerning the internal
administration or management of an
agency not affecting the rights of, or
procedure available to, the public.
(3) “Rate” means any charge to the
public for any service open to all and
upon the same terms, including
individual or joint rates, tolls,
classifications, or schedules thereof,
as well as commutation, mileage,
kilometerage and other special rates
which shall be imposed by law or
regulation to be observed and
followed by any person.
(4) “Rule making” means an agency
process for the formulation,
amendment, or repeal of a rule.
(5) “Contested case” means any
proceeding, including licensing, in
which the legal rights, duties or
privileges asserted by specific parties
as required by the Constitution or by
law are to be determined after
hearing.
(6) “Person” includes an individual,
partnership, corporation, association,
public or private organization of any
character other than an agency.
(7) “Party” includes a person or agency
named or admitted as a party, or
properly seeking and entitled as of
right to be admitted as a party, in any
agency proceeding; but nothing
herein shall be construed to prevent
and agency from admitting any
person or agency as a party for
limited purposes.
(8) “Decision” means the whole or any
part of the final disposition, not of an
interlocutory character, whether
affirmative, negative, or injunctive in
form, of an agency in any matter,
 including licensing, rate fixing and
granting of rights and privileges.
(9) “Adjudication” means an agency
process for the formulation of a final
order.
(10) “License” includes the whole or
any part of any agency permit,
certificate, passport, clearance,
approval, registration, charter,
membership, statutory exemption or
other form of permission, or
regulation of the exercise of a right or
privilege.
(11) “Licensing” includes agency
process involving the grant, renewal,
denial, revocation, suspension,
annulment, withdrawal, limitation,
amendment, modification or
conditioning of a license.
(12) “Sanction” includes the whole or
part of a prohibition; the withholding
of relief; the imposition of penalty or
fine; the destruction, taking, seizure
or withholding of property; the
assessment of damages,
reimbursement, restitution,
compensation, cost, charges or fees;
the revocation or suspension of
license; or the taking of other
compulsory or restrictive action.
(13) “Relief” includes the whole or
part of any grant of money,
assistance, license, authority,
privilege, exemption, exception, or
remedy; recognition of any claim,
right, immunity, privilege, exemption
or exception; or taking of any action
upon application or petition of any
person.
(14) “Agency proceeding” means any
agency process with respect to
rule-making, adjudication and
licensing.
(15) “Agency action” includes the
whole or part of every agency rule,
order, license, sanction, relief or its
equivalent or denial thereof.
Chapter 2 - ​Rules and Regulations
Section 3. ​Filing.​ - As used in this
Book:
(1) Every agency shall file with the
University of the Philippines Law
Center three ​(3)​ certified copies of
every rule adopted by it. Rules in
force on the date of effectivity of this
Code which are not filed within three
(3)​ months from that date shall not
thereafter be the basis of any
sanction against any party or persons.
(2) The records officer of the agency, or
his equivalent functionary, shall carry
out the requirements of this section
under pain of disciplinary action.
(3) A permanent register of all rules shall
be kept by the issuing agency and
shall be open to public inspection.
Section 4. ​Effectivity​ - In addition to
other rule-making requirements provided by
law not inconsistent with this Book, each rule
shall become effective fifteen ​(15)​ days from
the date of filing as above provided unless a
different date is fixed by law, or specified in
the rule in cases of imminent danger to
public health, safety and welfare, the
existence of which must be expressed in a
statement accompanying the rule. The
agency shall take appropriate measures to
make emergency rules known to persons
who may be affected by them.
Section 5. ​Publication and Recording ​-
The University of the Philippines Law Center
shall:
 (1) Publish a quarterly bulletin
setting forth the text of rules
filed with it during a preceding
quarter; and
(2) Keep an up-to-date
codification of all rules thus
published and remaining in
effect, together with a
complete index and
appropriate tables.
Section 6. ​Omission of Some Rules​ . -
(1) The University of the
Philippines Law Center may
omit from the bulletin or the
codification any rule of its
publication would be unduly
cumbersome, expensive or
otherwise inexpedient, but
copies of that rule shall be
made available on application
to the agency which adopted
it, and the bulletin shall
contain a notice stating the
general subject matter of the
omitted rule and new copies
thereof may be obtained.
(2) Every rule establishing an
offense or defining an act
which, pursuant to law is
punishable as a crime or
subject to a penalty shall in all
cases be published in full text.
Section 7. ​Distribution of Bulletin and
Codified Rules.​ -The University of the
Philippines Law Center shall furnish one ​(1)
free copy each of every issue of the bulletin
and of the codified rules or supplements to
the Office of the President, Congress, all
appellate courts and the National Library.
The bulletin and the codified rules shall be
made available free of charge to such public
officers or agencies as the Congress may
select, and to other persons at a price
sufficient to cover publication and mailing or
distribution costs.
Section 8. ​Judicial Notice.​ - The court
shall take judicial notice of the certified copy
of each rule duly filed or as published in the
bulletin or the codified rules.
Section 9. ​Public Participation.​ -
(1) If not otherwise required by
law, an agency shall, as far as
practicable, publish or
circulate notices of proposed
rules and afford interested
parties the opportunity to
submit their views prior to the
adoption of any rule.
(2) In the fixing of rates, no rule
or final order shall be valid
unless the proposed rates
shall have been published in a
newspaper of general
circulation at least two (2)
weeks before the first hearing
thereon.
(3) In case of opposition, the rules
on contested cases shall be
observed.
3. When Local Ordinance Takes Effect
Local Government Code
Section 54. ​Approval of Ordinances​ -
(a) Every ordinance enacted by the
sangguniang panlalawigan,
sangguniang panlungsod, or
sangguniang bayan shall be presented
to the provincial governor or city or
municipal mayor, as the case may be.
If the local chief executive concerned
approves the same, he shall affix his
 signature on each and every page
thereof; otherwise, he shall veto it
and return the same with his
objections to the sanggunian, which
may proceed to reconsider the same.
The sanggunian concerned may
override the veto of the local chief
executive by two-thirds (2/3) vote of
all its members, thereby making the
ordinance or resolution effective for
all legal intents and purposes.
(b) The veto shall be communicated by
the local chief executive concerned to
the sanggunian within fifteen ​(15)
days in the case of a province, and
ten ​(10) ​days in the case of a city or a
municipality; otherwise, the
ordinance shall be deemed approved
as if he had signed it.
(c) Ordinances enacted by the
sangguniang barangay shall, upon
approval by the majority of all its
members, be signed by the punong
barangay.
Section 55. ​Veto Power of the Local
Chief Executive.​ -
(a) The local chief executive may veto
any ordinance of the sanggunian
panlalawigan, sangguniang
panlungsod, or sanggunian bayan on
the ground that it is ultra vires or
prejudicial to the public welfare,
stating his reasons therefor in writing.
(b) The local chief executive, except the
punong barangay, shall have the
power to veto any particular item or
items of an appropriations ordinance,
an ordinance or resolution adopting a
local development plan and public
investment program, or an ordinance
directing the payment of money or
creating liability. In such a case, the
veto shall not affect the item or items
which are not objected to. The
vetoed item or items shall not take
effect unless the sanggunian
overrides the veto in the manner
herein provided; otherwise, the item
or items in the appropriations
ordinance of the previous year
corresponding to those vetoed, if any,
shall be deemed reenacted.
(c) The local chief executive may veto an
ordinance or resolution only once.
The sanggunian may override the
veto of the local chief executive
concerned by two-thirds (2/3) vote of
all its members, thereby making the
ordinance effective even without the
approval of the local chief executive
concerned.
Section 56.​ ​Review of Component City
and Municipal Ordinances or Resolutions by
the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
(a) Within three (3) days after approval,
the secretary to the sanggunian
panlungsod or sangguniang bayan
shall forward to the sangguniang
panlalawigan for review, copies of
approved ordinances and the
resolutions approving the local
development plans and public
investment programs formulated by
the local development councils.
(b) Within thirty (30) days after the
receipt of copies of such ordinances
and resolutions, the sangguniang
panlalawigan shall examine the
documents or transmit them to the
provincial attorney, or if there be
none, to the provincial prosecutor for
prompt examination. The provincial
 attorney or provincial prosecutor
shall, within a period of ten ​(10)​ days
from receipt of the documents,
inform the sangguniang panlalawigan
in writing of his comments or
recommendations, which may be
considered by the sangguniang
panlalawigan in making its decision.
(c) If the sangguniang panlalawigan finds
that such an ordinance or resolution
is beyond the power conferred upon
the sangguniang panlungsod or
sangguniang bayan concerned, it shall
declare such ordinance or resolution
invalid in whole or in part. The
sangguniang panlalawigan shall enter
its action in the minutes and shall
advise the corresponding city or
municipal authorities of the action it
has taken.
(d) If no action has been taken by the
sangguniang panlalawigan within
thirty ​(30)​ days after submission of
such an ordinance or resolution, the
same shall be presumed consistent
with law and therefore valid.
Section 57. ​Review of Barangay
Ordinances by the Sangguniang Panlungsod
or Sangguniang Bayan.​ -
(a) Within ten ​(10)​ days after its
enactment, the sangguniang
barangay shall furnish copies of all
barangay ordinances to the
sangguniang panlungsod or
sangguniang bayan concerned for
review as to whether the ordinance is
consistent with law and city or
municipal ordinances.
(b) If the sangguniang panlungsod or
sangguniang bayan, as the case may
be, fails to take action on barangay
ordinances within thirty ​(30)​ days
from receipt thereof, the same shall
be deemed approved.
(c) If the sangguniang panlungsod or
sangguniang bayan, as the case may
be, finds the barangay ordinances
inconsistent with law or city or
municipal ordinances, the sanggunian
concerned shall, within thirty ​(30)
days from receipt thereof, return the
same with its comments and
recommendations to the sangguniang
barangay concerned for adjustment,
amendment, or modification; in
which case, the effectivity of the
barangay ordinance is suspended
until such time as the revision called
for is effected.
Section 58. ​Enforcement of
Disapproved Ordinances or Resolutions.​ - Any
attempt to enforce any ordinance or any
resolution approving the local development
plan and public investment program, after
the disapproval thereof, shall be sufficient
ground for the suspension or dismissal of the
official or employee concerned.
Section 59.​ ​Effectivity of Ordinances
or Resolutions.​ -
(a) Unless otherwise stated in the
ordinance or the resolution approving
the local development plan and
public investment program, the same
shall take effect after ten ​(10)​ days
from the date a copy thereof is
posted in a bulletin board at the
entrance of the provincial capitol or
city, municipal, or barangay hall, as
the case may be, and in at least two
(2)​ ​other conspicuous places in the
local government unit concerned.
(b) The secretary to the sanggunian
concerned shall cause the posting of
an ordinance or resolution in the
bulletin board at the entrance of the
provincial capitol and the city,
municipal, or barangay hall in at least
two ​(2)​ conspicuous places in the
local government unit concerned not
later than five ​(5) ​days after approval
thereof.
The text of the ordinance or
resolution shall be disseminated and
posted in Filipino or English and in the
language understood by the majority
of the people in the local government
unit concerned, and the secretary to
the sanggunian shall record such fact
in a book kept for the purpose,
stating the dates of approval and
posting.
(c) The gist of all ordinances with penal
sanctions shall be published in a
newspaper of general circulation
within the province where the local
legislative body concerned belongs. In
the absence of any newspaper of
general circulation within the
province, posting of such ordinances
shall be made in all municipalities and
cities of the province where the
sanggunian of origin is situated.
(d) In the case of highly urbanized and
independent component cities, the
main features of the ordinance or
resolution duly enacted or adopted
shall, in addition to being posted, be
published once in a local newspaper
of general circulation within the city:
Provided, That in the absence thereof
the ordinance or resolution shall be
published in any newspaper of
general circulation.
4. Manner of Computing Time
Civil Code
Article 13. ​When the laws speak of
years, months, days or nights, it shall be
understood that years are of three hundred
sixty-five days each; months, of thirty days;
days, of twenty-four hours; and nights, from
sunset to sunrise.
If months are designated by their
name, they shall be computed by the
number of days which they respectfully have.
In computing a period, the first day
shall be excluded, and the last day included.
Administrative Code
Book I
Chapter 7
Section 28. ​Pr​ etermission of Holiday.​ -
Where the day, or the last day, for doing any
act required or permitted by law falls on a
regular holiday or special day, the act may be
done on the next succeeding business day.
Chapter 8
Section 31. ​Legal Periods.​ - "Year"
shall be understood to be twelve calendar
months; "month" of thirty days, unless it
refers to a specific calendar month in which
case it shall be computed according to the
number of days the specific month contains;
"day," to a day of twenty-four hours; and
"night," from sunset to sunrise.
5. Effectivity of Laws Until Repealed
Concept of Temporary Statutes
1. Permanent/Indefinite
- Law (once established)
continues until changed by
competent legislative power
 -
NOT​ changed by change of
sovereignty
- EXCEPT​ that of political
nature
2. Temporary
- In force for limited period only
- Terminate upon expiration of
term stated or upon
occurrence of certain events
- NO REPEALING STATUTE
needed
6. How a Bill Becomes a Law
Legislative Process
1. Preparation of the Bill
- The Member or the Bill
Drafting Division of the
Reference and Research
Bureau prepares and drafts
the bill upon the Member’s
request
2. First Reading
a. The bill is filed with the Bills
and Index Service and the
same is numbered and
reproduced
b. Three ​(3)​ ​days after its filing,
the same is included in the
Order of Business for First
Reading
c. On First Reading, the
Secretary General reads the
title and number of the bill.
The Speaker refers the bill to
the appropriate Committee/s.
3. Committee Consideration/Action
a. The Committee where
the bill was referred to
evaluates it to determine the
necessity of conducting public
hearings. If the Committee
finds it necessary to conduct
public hearings, it schedules
the time thereof, issues public
notices and invites resource
persons from the public and
private sectors, the academe
and experts in the proposed
legislation.
If the Committee finds
that no public hearing is
needed, it schedules the bll
for Committee discussion/s.
b. Based on the result of the
public hearings or Committee
discussions, the Committee
may introduce amendments,
consolidate bills on the same
subject matter, or propose a
substitute bill. It then
prepares the corresponding
committee report.
c. The Committee approves the
Committee Report and
formally transmits the same to
the Plenary Affairs Bureau.
4. Second Reading
a. The Committee Report →
registered and numbered by:
Bills and Index Service
- Included in the Order
of Business
- Referred to →
Committee on Rules
b. The Committee on Rules →
schedules bill for
consideration
c. Secretary General: reads
number, title, text of bill and
then:
i. Period of Sponsorship
and Debate
ii. Period of Amendments
iii. Voting by:
 1. Viva voce
2. Count by tellers
3. Division of
House
4. Nominal voting
5. Third Reading
a. - The amendments ​(if any)​ →
engrossed
- printed copies of the bill →
reproduced for ​Third Reading
b. Engrossed bill is included in
Calendar of Bills for ​Third
Reading
- Copies of this are
distributed to ALL
MEMBERS three ​(3)
days before ​Third
Reading
c. Secretary General reads: ONLY
number and title of bill
d. - Roll call | nominal voting →
called
- member is given three ​(3)
minutes to explain his vote
- NO AMENDMENT on the bill
ALLOWED
i. Bill is approved by:
affirmative vote of
majority of members
PRESENT
ii. IF Bill: disapproved →
same is transmitted to
Archives
6. Transmittal of the Approved Bill to
the Senate
- The approved bill is transmitted
to the Senate for its concurrence.
7. Senate Action on Approved Bill of
the House
- The bill undergoes the same
legislative process in the Senate.
8. Conference Committee
a. Constituted && composed of
Members → from each House
of Congress
- Settle, reconcile, thresh
out → differences OR
disagreements on any
provision
b. Conferees → NOT LIMITED to:
reconciling differences in bill
BUT:​ may introduce new
provisions germane to subject
matter
OR​ report out entirely NEW
BILL
c. Prepares report
- To be signed by ALL
CONFEREES and
CHAIRMAN
d. Submitted for
consideration/approval of
BOTH HOUSES
- NO AMENDMENT
allowed
9. Transmittal of the Bill to the
President
- Copies of bill → transmitted to
→ President
- Bill
- SIGNED​ by:
1​ Senate President
2​ Speaker of HoR
- CERTIFIED​ by:
1​ Secretary of Senate
2​ Secretary General of the
House
10. Presidential Action on the Bill
a. Approved​ by President
- Assigned RA number
- Transmitted to House
where it originated
b. Vetoed
- Bill WITH message citing
reason for vetor →
transmitted to House of
origin
11. Action on Approved Bill
- Bill is reproduced
 - Copies sent to Official Gazette
Office for publication and
distribution to implementing
agencies
- Included in annual compilation
of ACTS and RESOLUTIONS
12. Action on Vetoed Bill
- IF congress decides to override
veto → HOUSE and SENATE
shall proceed ​separately​ to
reconsider bill or vetoed items
→ two-thirds ​(2/3)​ of Members
of each house = bill becomes
law
Batch 4
E. Judicial Construction
1987 Constitution
Article VIII
Judicial Department
Section 1.​ 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.
Section 4.​ ​(1)​ The Supreme Court
shall be composed of a Chief Justice
and fourteen ​(14)​ ​Associate Justices.
It may sit ​en banc ​or in its discretion,
in division of three ​(3)​, five ​(5)​, or
seven ​(7)​ Members. Any vacancy shall
be filled within ninety ​(90)​ ​days from
the occurrence thereof.
​(2)​ All cases involving the
constitutionality of a treaty,
international or executive agreement,
or law, which shall be heard by the
Supreme Court ​en banc,​ and all other
cases which under the Rules of Court
are required to be heard ​en banc,
including those involving the
constitutionality, application, or
operation of ordinances, and other
regulations, shall be decided with the
concurrence of a majority of the
Members who actually took part in
the deliberations on the issues in the
case and voted thereon.
​(3)​ Cases or matters heard
by a division shall be decided or
resolved with the concurrence of a
majority of the Members who
actually took part in the deliberations
on the issues in the case and voted
thereon, and in no case without the
concurrence of at least three ​(3)​ of
such Members. When the required
number is not obtained, the case shall
be decided ​en banc: Provided, ​that no
doctrine or principle of law laid down
by the court in a decision rendered ​en
banc ​or in division may be modified
or reversed except by the court
sitting ​en banc.