Representatives, G.R. No. 160261, (November 10, 2003)]
2. Legislative ◦
What is Legislative Power? Legislative power is the authority to make, alter, and repeal laws. [Bernas, ▪ 676] Legislative power is vested in the Congress, which consists of a Senate ▪ and a House of Representatives. [Art. VI, Sec. 1, 1987 Constitution] Grant of legislative power to Congress is plenary. Congress may legislate ▪ on any subject matter provided that constitutional limitations are observed. [Art. VI, Sec. 1, 1987 Constitution]
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What is the Structure of Philippine Congress? Philippine Congress is bicameral in nature, consisting of the House of ▪ Representatives and the Senate. [Art. VI, Sec. 1, 1987 Constitution] The Senate is composed of 24 members elected at large by the qualified ▪ voters of the Philippines. [Art. VI, Sec. 2, 1987 Constitution] Senators must be: ▪ Natural born citizens of the Philippines, ▪ At least 35 years old on the day of the election, ▪ Able to read and write, ▪ A registered voter, and ▪ A resident of the Philippines for not less than 2 years immediately ▪ preceding the day of the election. [Art. VI, Sec. 3, 1987 Constitution] ▪
The House of Representatives is composed of not more than 250 members, unless otherwise fixed by law (this is the reason why there are more than 250 congressmen today) consisting of: District Representatives, who are elected from the legislative ▪ districts [Art. VI, Sec. 5, 1987 Constitution], and Party-list Representatives. [R.A. 7941] ▪
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District Representatives must be: Natural born citizens of the Philippines, ▪ At least 25 years old on the day of the election, ▪ Able to read or write, ▪ A registered voter in the district where he shall be elected, ▪ A resident of the district for a period not less than 1 year ▪ immediately preceding the day of election. [Art. VI, Sec. 6, 1987 Constitution]
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Party List Representatives must be: Natural born citizens, ▪ Must be at least 25 years of age on the day of the election; in case ▪ of the youth sector, he must be 25 but not more than 30 years old on the day of the election, A registered voter, ▪
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