How a bill becomes a Law

How a Bill Becomes a Law

A bill, introduced in the House of Representatives, is labeledd H and assigned a number

ACTION ON BILL
READING OF TITLE / AUTHOR)S) REFERRING TO APPROPRIATE STANDING COMMITTEE

A bill, introduced in the Senate, is labeledd S and assigned a number

FIRST READING

FIRST READING

COMMITTEES STUDY AND RECOMMENDS: IF ACTION IS FAVORABLE, THE REPORT IS SUBMITTED THROUGH COMMITTEE ON RULES IF UNFAVORABLE, BILLS IS LAID ON THE TABLE AND THE AUTHOR(S) INFORMED COMMITTEE ON RULES CALENDARS BILLS FOR FLOOR DISCUSSION

SECOND READING

FLOOR DISCUSSION DEBATES PERIOD OF AMENDMENTS VOTING

SECOND READING

THIRD READING

DISTRIBUTION OF BILL IN FINAL FORM ROLL CALL VOTE

THIRD READING

IN CASE OF CONFLICTING PROVISIONS, AD HOC CONFERENCE COMMITTEE IS CONSTITUTED TO RECONCILE DIFFERENCES FLOOR DELIBERATIONS ON CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT VOTING

PRESIDENTIAL ACTION

APPROVES

FAILURE TO ACT WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT, BILL LAPSES INTO LAW RETURNS TO ORIGINATING HOUSE WITH EXPLANATION, CONGRESS ACCEPTS OR OVERRIDES BY2/3 VOTE IN BOTH HOUSES

VETOES

Based on a chart prepared by the House of Representatives Secretariat

Introduction:
1987 Constitution: 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 of initiative and referendum

What is a bill?
What is the procedure in making a law required by the Constitution?

A bill is a document which either 1) changes the current law, 2) adds new law, or 3) deletes existing law. The idea for a bill may come from House members, their constituents, lobbyists, or heads of state agencies charged with administering the law. Procedures: Under 1987 Constitution: Section 24 of Article VI says: 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 26 of Article VI says: (1) One subject rule (2) Three readings rule (3) Passing of bill to the President (4) Power of the President to veto item or items in the appropriation

Who shall initiate the passing of a bill?

- Any member of the Congress
- Either the House of Representatives or the Senate of

the Philippines
- Bill Drafting Division of the Reference and

Research Bureau
- Assigned body by the Congress to conduct research

regarding the law that a member wanted to pass, then prepares and draft the bill.

First Reading
The bill is filed with the Bills and Index Service

and the same is numbered and reproduced.

- House Bill No. _____ and Senate Bill No. ______

Three days after its filing, the same is included in

the Order of Business for First Reading.

On First Reading, the Secretary General reads

the title and number of the bill. The Speaker refers the bill to the appropriate Committee/s.

Committee and Consideration or action

Committee Evaluation 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 subsitute bill. It then prepares the corresponding committee report. The Committee approves the Committee Report and formally transmits the same to the Plenary Affairs Bureau.

Second Reading
The Committee Report is registered and numbered by

the Bills and Index Service. It is included in the Order of Business and referred to the Committee on Rules. The Committee on Rules schedules the bill for consideration on Second Reading. On Second Reading, the Secretary General reads the number, title and text of the bill and the following takes place:
Period of Sponsorship and Debate Period of Amendments Voting which may be by: viva voce count by tellers division of the House; or nominal voting

Third Reading
The amendments, if any, are engrossed and printed copies

of the bill are reproduced for Third Reading. The engrossed bill is included in the Calendar of Bills for Third Reading and copies of the same are distributed to all the Members three days before its Third Reading. On Third Reading, the Secretary General reads only the number and title of the bill. A roll call or nominal voting is called and a Member, if he desires, is given three minutes to explain his vote. No amendment on the bill is allowed at this stage.
The bill is approved by an affirmative vote of a majority of the

Members present. If the bill is disapproved, the same is transmitted to the Archives.

Where an approved bill goes?

An approved bill shall be transmitted to the

Senate for its concurrence

The bill undergoes the same legislative process

in the Senate.

Whats next then?

There will be a Conference Committee
A Conference Committee is constituted and is composed of

Members from each House of Congress to settle, reconcile or thresh out differences or disagreements on any provision of the bill. The conferees are not limited to reconciling the differences in the bill but may introduce new provisions germane to the subject matter or may report out an entirely new bill on the subject. The Conference Committee prepares a report to be signed by all the conferees and the Chairman. The Conference Committee Report is submitted for consideration/approval of both Houses. No amendment is allowed.

Transmittal of the Bill to President

Copies of the bill, signed by the Senate President

and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and certified by both the Secretary of the Senate and the Secretary General of the House, are transmitted to the President. The PresidentialAction to the Bill:
If the bill is approved the President, the same is

assigned an RA number and transmitted to the House where it originated. If the bill is vetoed, the same, together with a message citing the reason for the veto, is transmitted to the House where the bill originated.

Action on the Bill after transmittal to the President

If Approved:
The bill is reproduced and copies are sent to the Official

Gasette Office for publication and distribution to the implementing agencies. It is then included in the annual compilation of Acts and Resolutions.

If vetoed: The message is included in the Order of Business. If the Congress decides to override the veto, the House and the Senate shall proceed separately to reconsider the bill or the vetoed items of the bill. If the bill or its vetoed items is passed by a vote of two-thirds of the Members of each House, such bill or items shall become a law.