ART.

VI- LEGISLATIVE
DEPARTMENT
SECTION 26
 (1) Every bill passed by 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 thereon shall
be taken immediately thereafter, and the yeas and nays entered
in the Journal.
(1) Every bill passed by the Congress shall embrace
only one subject which shall be expressed in the title
thereof.
Limitations:
1. Substantive – The subject matter of legislation
a. Implied limitations
Inferred from the government

b. Express Limitation on General legislative powers

Limitations found in the Bill of Rights

c. Specific Limitations on Specific powers

Limitations scattered in the parts of the Constitution

2. Formal – Procedural requirements of the congress

Prohibition against delegation of
legislative powers.

Congress is prohibited from delegating its legislative

power, however, it is not absolute.

 1. Delegation is expressly authorized by the

Constitution.

 2. Delegation is made for Local Governments

Prohibition against irrepealable laws
 1. Essence of Legislative Power
The authority of legislative to make laws as well as
to alter or repeal them.

 2. Consequences of permanent irrepealable laws

These laws will retard, if not destroy, the public
welfare.
Requirements to the subject and
title of bills
 1. One title, one subject.
The Constitution requires only one subject for a
proposed bill.

 2. Purposes of constitutional requirement:

a. To prevent hodge-podge or log-rolling legislation.
b. To prevent surprise or fraud upon the legislature.
c. To inform the people, through such publications.
What is hodge-podge or log-rolling
legislation?

Refers to any legislation that have

several subjects on unrelated
matters combined together to
acquire majority of the votes.
Effects of violation of the
requirements
The constitutional provision prohibits the
passage of two classes of bills:
 1. A bill containing riders (Section 25.2)

 2. A bill which embodies different subjects

expressed in the title
Exceptions to the requirement

 1. Local ordinances as they do not partake of the

nature of laws.

 2. Proper codifications and revisions of statutes.

Steps in the passage of a bill
1. First Reading
Presentation of the proposed bill.
2. Referral to appropriate committee
After the first reading, the bill is referred to an appropriate
committee.
3. Second Reading
If the bill is favourably, it is calendared for second reading by the committee on
rules.
4. Debates
General debate after second reading and the house may kill or pass the bill.
5. Printing and Distribution
The bill is printed in its final form and passed among the members of the house
three days before its passage.
6. Third Reading
It is the last reading of the bill and where nominal voting is held. No
amendment thereto is allowed. A majority of the members, constituting a
quorum is sufficient to pass a bill.
7. Referral to the other House
If approved, the bill is passed to the other house where the same
procedure takes place.
8. Submission of joint bicameral committee
If there are differences between the versions of the bill, from the house
and senate, the bill will be sent to the committee of members of the both
houses to reconcile or compromise conflicting provisions.
9. Submission to the president
If the bill is approved, it is passed to the president’s approval or
disapproval, either sign it as a law or vetoes and sent back with veto
message.
Purpose of provision requiring three
readings of bill

The three readings must be done on separate

days – not in one day. (sec.26[2]).

To prevent hasty and improvident legislation and

railroading of bills, and to compel the careful
examination of proposed laws.
Certification of bills by the President
 (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

 exceptwhen the President certifies to the necessity of its

immediate enactment to meet a public calamity or
emergency.
 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 of
all the Members of such House
shall agree to pass the bill, it
shall be sent, together with
the objections, to the other
SECTION 27

 (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.
Meaning of Bill
A draft of law submitted to the Consideration of a
legislative body for its adoption.

Meaning of Statute
 Writtenlaw enacted by the legislature. Often
called “act”.

How Statutes are Identified

 Bytheir serial number or when a special title is
supplied.
Formal Parts of the law
1. Title
Announces the subject matter of the act.
2. Preamble
A sort of introduction or preface of the law.
3. Enacting Clause
Serves as a formal means of identifying the legislative
body that enacts the law.
4. Body
It contains the proposed law or statute.
5. Effectivity Clause
The portion that provides the time when the law takes
effect.
How bill may become a Law
 When the president approves the law by signing
it.

 When he vetoes the bill and returns the same with

his objection to the house where it originated,
and the same is passed over his veto by the vote
of two-thirds of all members of both houses.

 Ifthe president did not communicate with his

veto within 30 days after its receipt thereof.
Veto power of the President
 Itis the power vested in the President to
disapprove acts passed by the congress.

Purpose of the Veto

 To protect the integrity of the executive branch.
 To provide a check on hasty, corrupt or ill-
considered legislation.
Pocket Veto
 ThePresident does not have the pocket veto
power, disapproval of the bill by inaction of his
part.

When partial veto allowed

 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.
Meaning of Resolution
 Defined as a formal expression of opinion, will, or intent by an
official body or assembled group.

Use of Resolutions
 Employed with respect to matters within the exclusive authority of the
law making bodies and do not require the approval of the President for
their effectivity.

 Used when a lawmaking body expresses attitude or opinion.

 Resolution can withdraw the power of the President to fix tariff rates.
Kinds of Resolutions
1. Simple
If passed by either house for exclusive purpose.

2. Concurrent
Independently passed by the other house and ratified by the
other.

3. Joint
If approved by both houses in a joint session but voting
separately.