No. 95 - 5 October 2004

The Congressional Committees

Every bill filed in Congress is referred to an appropriate committee (primary referral). In case a measure covers subject matters within the jurisdiction of more than one committee, the bill is referred to other committees (secondary, tertiary referral and so on).

The primary function of the committees is to make sure the bill is consistent with existing laws. The measure could either be amendments to already existing laws or an entirely new proposal.

The committees are expected to conduct public hearings with sectors concerned or affected by the proposed bill. Thereafter, the committee is expected to come up with a Committee Report containing all the results of public hearings as well as recommended changes to the original proposal. The bill will move further only if the Report is favorable.

Since the Committees are the basic units in the law-making process, their organization should come immediately after the election of the officers of Congress.

In the House of Representatives

Every congressman is entitled to belong to as many committees he is interested in. Each Representative can only be chairman of one standing (or regular) committee and vice-chairman of a maximum of two committees. Members of a committee are not allowed to vote on any bill which affects their interests. The Speaker, Deputy Speakers, and Majority and Minority Leaders are allowed membership in all committees.

In the Senate

The rules of the Senate are similar to the rules of the House. Senators, however, can chair more than one committee because there are more committees than Senators. Only the President Pro Tempore, Majority and Minority Floor Leaders get the chance to sit in all regular committees.

To date, only the chairmanship of the Senate's Ethics and Privileges committee remains vacant. After the Senate presidency was won by Senator Franklin Drilon with a 13-10 vote against Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Jr., committee assignments have been more favorable to the majority who backed Drilon, leaving the opposition to choose from among the “minor” committees.

The Constitutional Bodies

The 1987 Constitution mandates that the Senate and the House of Representatives have a Commission on Appointments and Electoral Tribunals for both chambers.

The Electoral Tribunal’s task is to settle all post-proclamation electoral disputes involving their respective body’s members. Its membership is made up of three Supreme Court Justices (designated by the Chief Justice) for each Chamber with six Senators and six Congressmen. They are chosen based on proportional representation of political parties.

The Commission on Appointment’s responsibility is to confirm major appointments made by the President under Article VII Section 16 of the Constitution. Chaired by the Senate President, it is composed of 12 Senators and 12 Congressmen based on the proportion of elected seats held by political parties over its membership.