Powers and Duties: Senator in the Philippines

Term of Office

• 6 years starting noon of June 30 following election day
• Can be elected to a maximum of 2 consecutive terms in office

Qualifications

• Natural-born Filipino citizen
• At least 35 years old on election day
• Able to read and write
• Registered voter 
• Resident of the Philippines for at least 2 years immediately preceding the day of the election

Powers and Responsibilities

• Create bills, resolutions, concurrent resolutions, and simple resolutions
• Debate measures in respective committees and during plenary sessions
• Conduct inquiries in aid of legislation
• Propose or concur with amendments in the appropriation of funds by the House of Representatives
• Try and decide cases of impeachment
• Declare the existence of a state of war (two-thirds vote along with the House, voting separately)
• Authorize the president to exercise powers to carry out a declared national policy “for a limited period and subject to restrictions” in times of war or other national emergency
• Revoke or extend the president’s proclamation of martial law
• Concur with or reject amnesty by the president
• Concur with or reject treaties or international agreements (two-thirds vote)
• Propose amendments to the Constitution through a constituent assembly or constitutional convention
• Make full disclosure of financial and business interests, and notify the chamber of possible conflicts of interest when filing legislation of which they are authors

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

– Research by Michelle Abad/Rappler.com

Read the other articles in this series:

• Powers and Duties: President, Vice President of the Philippines
• Powers and Duties: District Representative, Party List Representative in the Philippines
• Powers and Duties: Provincial Governor, Vice Governor, Board Member in the Philippines
• Powers and Duties: City Mayor, Vice Mayor, Councilor in the Philippines
• Powers and Duties: Municipal Mayor, Vice Mayor, Councilor in the Philippines