Article VI — Legislative Department
How Laws Are Made in the Philippines: Article VI Explained
Every law that governs your life — from the minimum wage to the national budget — starts here. Article VI gives the power to make laws to Congress, sets term limits for legislators, and establishes the rules for how bills become laws.
32 sections covering the Senate, the House of Representatives, the legislative process, the budget, and the power of taxation. Here are the ones that matter most for everyday Filipinos.
What This Article Covers: Structure of Congress (Senate + House), party-list system, term limits (Senate: 2 terms / House: 3 terms), how bills become laws, presidential veto and override, budget origination in the House, and one-subject rule.
Key sections at a glance
Article VI has 32 sections. These are the most important ones for understanding how your government makes laws.
Legislative power vested in Congress
Official constitutional text
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.
ELI5— what this means for you
The power to make laws belongs to the Philippine Congress, which has two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. No other body (not the President, not the courts) can make a law from scratch.
House of Representatives — party-list
Official constitutional text
The House of Representatives shall be composed of not more than two hundred and fifty members, unless otherwise fixed by law, who shall be elected from legislative districts apportioned among the provinces, cities, and the Metropolitan Manila area in accordance with the number of their respective inhabitants, and on the basis of a uniform and progressive ratio, and those who, as provided by law, shall be elected through a party-list system of registered national, regional, and sectoral parties or organizations.
The party-list representatives shall constitute twenty per centum of the total number of representatives including those under the party-list.
ELI5— what this means for you
The House of Representatives has up to 250+ members: most from geographic districts, plus 20% from party-list groups representing marginalized sectors (workers, farmers, women, youth, etc.). Party-list groups can win seats based on their proportion of the national vote.
House qualifications
Official constitutional text
No person shall be a Member of the House of Representatives unless he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines and, on the day of the election, is at least twenty-five years of age, able to read and write, and, except the party-list representatives, a registered voter in the district in which he shall be elected, and a resident thereof for a period of not less than one year immediately preceding the day of the election.
ELI5— what this means for you
To be a House member: natural-born Filipino, at least 25 years old, registered voter in the district, 1-year resident in the district before election, able to read and write. For party-list representatives — at least 25, able to read and write, bona fide member of the sector they represent.
House terms and term limits
Official constitutional text
The Members of the House of Representatives shall be elected for a term of three years which shall begin, unless otherwise provided by law, at noon on the thirtieth day of June next following their election.
No Member of the House of Representatives shall serve for more than three consecutive terms. Voluntary renunciation of the office for any length of time shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of his service for the full term for which he was elected.
ELI5— what this means for you
House members serve 3-year terms and can be re-elected for a maximum of 3 consecutive terms (9 consecutive years total). After 3 consecutive terms, they must sit out for at least one term before running again in the same district.
All appropriations bills must originate in the House
Official constitutional text
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.
ELI5— what this means for you
The budget (appropriations bill), tax bills, tariff bills, and bills authorizing increases in public debt must originate in the House of Representatives — not the Senate. But the Senate can still amend these bills.
One subject per bill
Official constitutional text
Every bill passed by the Congress shall embrace only one subject which shall be expressed in the title thereof.
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.
ELI5— what this means for you
Every bill may only cover one subject, and that subject must be clearly stated in its title. A law that covers multiple unrelated subjects or is vaguely titled can be challenged as unconstitutional.
How bills become laws
Official constitutional text
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 House by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds of all the Members of that House, it shall become a law.
The President shall communicate his veto of any bill to the Congress within thirty days after the date of receipt thereof, otherwise, it shall become a law as if he had signed it.
ELI5— what this means for you
A bill is passed by both chambers, then sent to the President. The President can: (1) sign it into law, (2) veto it (send it back with objections), or (3) do nothing — in which case it becomes law after 30 days unless Congress is in recess. Congress can override a presidential veto with a 2/3 vote of all members.
Taxation — uniformity and equity
Official constitutional text
The rule of taxation shall be uniform and equitable. The Congress shall evolve a progressive system of taxation.
ELI5— what this means for you
The rule of taxation shall be uniform and equitable. Congress shall evolve a progressive system of taxation — meaning those who earn more should pay proportionally more in taxes.
How a bill becomes a law
1. Filing
Any member of Congress may file a bill. It is assigned a number and referred to a committee.
2. Committee deliberations
The relevant committee holds hearings, invites expert witnesses, and debates the bill. It can be approved, amended, or killed in committee.
3. Three readings
The bill must pass three readings on three separate days in each chamber (with some exceptions). The title is read on the first reading; full text on subsequent readings.
4. Bicameral conference
If the Senate and House pass different versions, a bicameral conference committee reconciles the differences. Both chambers then vote on the unified version.
5. Presidential action
The enrolled bill goes to the President. Sign = law. Veto = returns to Congress. No action for 30 days = automatically a law.
6. Veto override (if applicable)
Congress can override a presidential veto with a 2/3 vote of all members of both chambers, voting separately.
Mandatory section
For OFWs / Para sa OFW
Congress makes the laws that govern OFW deployment, OWWA benefits, and POEA/DMW operations. Article VI is the foundation for every OFW-related law the Philippines has passed.
- RA 8042 (Migrant Workers Act) and its amendment RA 10022 were Acts of Congress — initiated, debated, and passed through the Article VI process.
- OWWA's expanded benefits, the Balik-Manggagawa program, and OFW emergency repatriation funds are funded through the General Appropriations Act (the budget) — which Congress approves annually under Article VI.
- OFWs can influence legislation by contacting their district representative (home district in the Philippines) or reaching out to party-list groups representing OFW sectors.
- Party-list groups like ACT-OFW and other migrant worker organizations specifically represent OFW interests in the House of Representatives.
- Track OFW-related bills at congress.gov.ph and senate.gov.ph — search by keyword 'OFW', 'migrant worker', 'overseas Filipino'.
Real Filipino scenario
Rico, 45, barangay captain
Rico's barangay needs flood control infrastructure that has been in the national budget proposal for 3 years but keeps getting cut. He wants to know how to advocate for funding at the legislative level.
What Rico should do
- Identify your district's House Representative at congress.gov.ph
- Contact the Representative's district office directly
- Coordinate with the City Mayor and other barangay captains for collective advocacy
- Submit written testimony during House Appropriations Committee hearings on the national budget
- Follow up with the local DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) for matching fund programs
What most Filipinos get wrong about this
MythThe Senate can introduce the national budget.
Truth: Under Section 24, all appropriations, revenue, and tariff bills must originate in the House of Representatives. The Senate can amend House-originated bills, but it cannot originate the budget itself.
MythA member of Congress can serve as many terms as they want.
Truth: Senators are limited to 2 consecutive terms (12 years). House members are limited to 3 consecutive terms (9 years). After hitting the limit, they must sit out at least one election before running for the same position again.
MythIf the President doesn't sign a bill, it dies.
Truth: If the President neither signs nor vetoes a bill within 30 days of receiving it (while Congress is in session), the bill automatically becomes law without the President's signature. A presidential veto can also be overridden by a 2/3 vote of Congress.
MythParty-list groups represent any interest group.
Truth: Party-list groups must represent marginalized and underrepresented sectors — workers, farmers, women, youth, elderly, indigenous peoples, etc. Parties representing the wealthy or traditional political groups are not supposed to qualify for party-list (though this is contested in practice).
How to engage Congress as a citizen
Track how your legislators vote on bills
Congress sessions and votes are public record. Visit congress.gov.ph and senate.gov.ph to track bills, see voting records, and find your representative's contact information.
Contact your Representative or Senator about a bill
As a constituent, you have the right to communicate with your elected officials. Email, write, or visit their offices. District representatives are especially responsive to their local constituents.
Attend or watch congressional hearings
Congressional hearings on major bills are broadcast on YouTube (Senate and House official channels) and some cable channels. Citizens can submit written testimony or attend as observers.
Monitor the national budget (GAA) process
The General Appropriations Act is the national budget. It starts in the DBM (Department of Budget and Management), goes to the House, then the Senate. Scrutinize allocations for your region and sector at dbm.gov.ph.
Support or oppose legislation through public consultations
Congress is required to hold public consultations on major bills. When announced, citizens, NGOs, and sector groups can participate. Watch for announcements on congress.gov.ph and senate.gov.ph.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Senate and the House of Representatives?
The Senate has 24 members elected nationally (at-large) to 6-year terms. The House of Representatives has 250+ members elected by district (plus party-list) to 3-year terms. Both chambers must pass a bill in identical form before it goes to the President. The Senate tends to handle national-level issues; the House handles local/district concerns as well.
What does 'party-list' mean and how does it work?
Party-list is a system where 20% of House seats are allocated to groups representing marginalized sectors — farmers, workers, women, youth, indigenous peoples, etc. These groups run nationally and get seats proportional to their vote share. You vote for a party-list group separately from your district representative on your ballot.
Can a law cover multiple unrelated topics?
No. Section 26 requires every law to have only one subject, which must be clearly expressed in its title. The Supreme Court has struck down laws as unconstitutional for violating this rule. It prevents Congress from hiding controversial provisions inside unrelated bills ('riders').
How does Congress override a presidential veto?
After the President vetoes a bill, Congress can override the veto with a 2/3 vote of all members of each chamber voting separately. The bill then becomes law without the President's signature. This is rare but has happened in Philippine history.
What happens if Congress cannot agree on the budget?
If Congress fails to pass a General Appropriations Act (GAA) before the new fiscal year, the government operates under the reenacted budget — meaning the previous year's budget continues to apply. Reenacted budgets limit new spending and programs.
Sources
About the author
Written by Irvin Abarca with research support from Claude AI. Irvin is the founder of BatasKo, based in Dumaguete City.
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