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Exercise 4&5AS 2
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The LAW MAKING PROCESS in detail
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Preparation of the Bill
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• The bill is prepared by the Member or by the Bill Drafting Division of
the Reference and Research Bureau, upon his/her request.

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First Reading

• The bill is filed with the Plenary Affairs Bureau and the same is labeled
“HB/HR”, numbered and reproduced.
• Three days after its filing, the same is included in the Order of Business
for First Reading.
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• On First Reading, the Secretary reads the Title and Number of the Bill.
The Speaker/Senate President refers the bills to the appropriate 2 0
Committee/s.
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Committee Consideration/ Action
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• The Committee/s concerned evaluates the bill to determine the
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necessity of conducting public hearings.
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20 o If the Committee/s finds it necessary to conduct public hearings, it schedules
the time thereof, issues public notices and invites resource persons from the

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public and private sectors, the academe and experts on their proposed
legislation.
o If the Committee finds that no public hearing is needed, it schedules the bill
for Committee discussion/s.

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Committee Consideration/ Action

• 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.
• The Committee approves the committee report and formally transmits
the same to the Plenary Affairs Bureau. 2 0
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Second Reading L H
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• The Committee report is registered and numbered by the Plenary
Affairs Bureau, and included in the Calendar of Unassigned Business.

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• The Rules Committee, headed by the Majority Floor Leader, approves

20 the calendaring of the bill for floor deliberations. An alternative

process which usually happens if the Rules Committee is sitting on the
bill, when upon motion of any Member, the bill is calendared for
consideration.

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Second Reading
• The Secretary General reads the number, title and text of the bill and
the following takes place:
a. Period of Debate
o Sponsorship Speech. A period when the sponsor of the bills presents the
proposal to the chamber by outlining its advantages.
o Interpellation. A period when members of the chamber asks questions. A 2 0
friendly interpellation comes from its supporters, asking questions the
answers of which will further amplify its advantages. A hostile 2 0
are framed to highlight its disadvantages. A S
interpellation comes from those who oppose the bill, with questions that

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Second Reading L H
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• The Secretary General reads the number, title and text of the bill and
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the following takes place:
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a. Period of Debate

20 o Turno en Contra. A period when the oppositors of the bill are now give
the chance to present their arguments. Depending on the rules of the
chamber, these manifestations can be subjected to interpellation and
rebuttal.

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Second Reading
b. Period of Amendments
• Committee Amendmets. The Committee/s that studied the bill
will present their amendments.
• Individual Amendments. Any member can suggest her or his
own amendments.
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Each amendment is treated as one proposal, and maybe subjected to a
period of debate, i.e. the sponsor of the amendment will deliver a
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contra on the amendment may follow.
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sponsorship speech, interpellations may be raised, and a period of turno en

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Second Reading L H
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c. Voting may be by:

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• Viva voce
• Division of the House
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20 • Nominal or roll call

- Voting is done for each amendment, and for the final amended
version.

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Third Reading
• The Bill approved on the Second Reading, with its amendments, if any,
are engrossed. Printed copies of the bill are reproduced by the
Plenary Affairs Bureau 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 the Third Reading. 2 0
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Third Reading L H
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• On Third Reading, the Secretary General reads only the
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number and title of the bill.
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A roll call is called and a Member, if she or he so desires, is
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0 given 3 minutes to explain his or his vote. No amendment on
2 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.

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Order of Business
(a) Prayer.
(b) National Anthem (every Monday only).
(c) Roll call.
(d) Reading and approval of the Journal of the previous session.
(e) Reference of Business:
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Messages of the President of the Philippines.
Messages from the House of Representatives.
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3.
4. Communications, petitions and memorials. A S
First reading and reference to committees of bills or proposed resolutions.

5. Committee reports.
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Order of Business L H
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(f) Unfinished business.
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(g) Business for the day.
(h) Business for a certain date.

20 (i) Unassigned business.

(j) Bills and joint resolutions on third reading.

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Journal
• The following shall be inserted in full in the Journal:
(a) The proclamation issued by the President of the Philippines to convene
Congress.
(b) The titles of the bills and resolutions presented by any Member of the
Senate.
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(c) The objections to the legislative measures vetoed by the President of the
Philippines, together with the ayes and nays of the Senators on each
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vetoed measure.
(d) All nominal votings.
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Journal L H
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• And in condensed form:
(a) Messages of the President of the Philippines.
2 0 (b) Messages from the House of Representatives.

20 (c) Petitions.
(d) Communications.
(e) Memorials.

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Senate Officers
• Senate President • Secretary General
• Senate Pro Tempore  Asst. 1 –
• Majority Floor  Asst. 2 –
Leader • Sergeant-at-Arms 2 0
• Minority Floor Leader • Committees:
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AS
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Reference L H
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• UP Open University Module on Forest Governance
• Philippine Congress (www.congress.gov.ph) and Senate

2 0(www.senate.gov.ph)

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