The legislative power shall be 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 Congress is a Bicameral Legislature because it is composed of 2 Chambers or Houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives other examples are US (Senate and House of Representatives) and UK (House of Commons and House of Lords). Bicameral Legislatures have a slower lawmaking process but the second chamber serves as a check to ill-considered laws.

Senate

24 Senators Elected at large by all qualified voters of the Phils

Composed of District representatives and Party-list representatives Not more than 250 members unless otherwise fixed by law

House of Representatives

Qualifications:
Natural Born Filipino Citizen At least 35 years old on the day of election Able to read and write Registered voter Resident of the Phils for at least 2 years immediately preceding election

Term:

6 years w/ 1 reelection

Composed of:

District Representatives - compact, contiguous and adjacent territory with 250,000 voters (each province shall have at least 1 representative) Party-list Representative sector (e.g. labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous people, women, youth, overseas workers) except religious

Qualifications:
Natural born citizen of Phils At least 25 years old on day of elections Able to read and write Except for party-list, registered voter of district to be elected A resident thereof for a period of not less than 1 year immediately preceding election

Term:

3 years w/ 2 reelections

The Senate shall elect its President and the House of Representatives its Speaker, by a majority vote of all its Members. Each House shall choose such other officers as it may deem necessary. (Sec.16)

Senate
Senate President Senate President pro tempore Majority floor leader Minority floor leader Chairmen of standing and special committees Secretary Sergeant-at-arms

HoR
Speaker Deputy Speakers Majority Floor Leader Minority Floor Leader Secretary General Sergeant-at-arms

Privilege from Arrest

Cannot be arrested for offenses punishable by not more than 6 years if Congress is in Session
Cannot be questioned or held liable in any other place for speech or debate in Congress

Privilege of Speech and Debate

Legislative Power -Legislative Inquiry (Sec. 21) Executive Power -Commission on appointments(Art. VII, Sec.16) -Appropriation -Oversight of Executive branch (Question Time, Art. 7, sec.16) -Approval of Martial Law and Suspension of Writ of Habeas Corpus -Amnesty Judicial Power -Power to punish members for disorderly behavior (Art.6,Sec.16)

Power to Impeach President, Vice President, Justices of SC, members of constitutional commissions and Ombudsman Diplomatic Power -Ratification of Treaties -Declare Existence of a State of war Constituent power (Change the Constitution) - as Constituent Assembly -Call for Constitutional Convention