governance

Powers and Duties: District Representative, Party List Representative in the Philippines

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Powers and Duties: District Representative, Party List Representative in the Philippines
What powers do you give, what responsibilities and services should you expect when you elect a district representative and a party-list organization?

District Representative

Term of Office
  • 3 years
  • Can be elected to a maximum of 3 consecutive terms
Qualifications
  • Natural-born citizen of the Philippines 
  • At least 25 years of age on the day of election
  • Able to read and write
  • Registered voter in the district where he/she seeks to represent
  • Resident of that district for at least 1 year
Powers and Responsibilities
  • Create bills, joint resolutions, concurrent resolutions, and simple resolutions
  • Review the budget proposed by the executive department and create the general appropriations (budget) bill
  • Tackle impeachment complaints and submit the resolution setting the Articles of Impeachment
  • Vote to declare the existence of a state of war
  • Authorize the president to exercise powers to carry out a declared national policy in times of war or other national emergency
  • Vote to revoke or extend the president’s proclamation of martial law
  • Through the Commission on Appointments, approve or reject key appointments made by the president to government agencies
  • Vote on the president’s grant of amnesty
  • Propose amendments and revisions to the Constitution, vote to convene into a constituent assembly or to call for an election of members of a constitutional convention

Sources: 1987 Philippine Constitution, Rappler article: Beyond legislation: Powers, roles of Philippine lawmakers 

Party-list Representative

Term of Office
  • 3 years
  • Can be nominated by elected party or organization to a maximum of 3 consecutive terms
Qualifications

PARTY OR ORGANIZATION

  • Sectoral party – the group’s principal advocacy pertains to the special interests and concerns of the following sectors: labor, peasant, fisherfolk, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, elderly, handicapped, women, youth, veterans, overseas workers, and professionals
  • Sectoral organization – members have similar physical attributes or characteristics, employment, interests, or concerns
  • Political party – members have the same ideology, political ideas, and principles for the general conduct of the government
  • Must not be a religious sect or denomination, organization, or association organized for religious purposes
  • Must not advocate violence or unlawful means to seek its goals
  • Must not be a foreign party or organization
  • Must not receive support from any foreign government, foreign political party, foundation, and organization
  • Must not violate or fail to comply with laws, rules, or regulations relating to elections
  • Must not declare untruthful statements in its petition
  • Has not ceased to exist for at least 1 year or has not failed to participate in the last 2 preceding elections
  • Has not failed to obtain at least 2% of the votes cast under the party-list system in the 2 preceding elections

NOMINEE

  • Natural-born citizen of the Philippines 
  • Registered voter
  • Resident of the Philippines for at least 1 year
  • Able to read and write
  • Bona fide member for at least 90 days of the party which he/she seeks to represent
  • At least 25 years of age on the day of election; if nominee for a youth sector, not more than 30 years old
  • Nominated by the party
Powers and Responsibilities
  • Same as district representatives, but expected to represent the interests of his/her sector or party in creating bills and resolutions

Sources: 1987 Philippine Constitution, Republic Act 7941: Party-List System Act

Research by Pauline Macaraeg/Rappler.com

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