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PHILIPPINES
Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (House of Representatives)
PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module

Parliament name (generic / translated) Kongreso / Congress
Structure of parliament Bicameral
Chamber name (generic / translated) Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan / House of Representatives
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senado / Senate
APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE
Title Speaker of the House of Representatives
Term - duration: 3 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, removal, loss of parliamentary mandate, death, dissolution of the House
Appointment - elected by all Members of the House
- the election is held on the fourth Monday in July every 3 years
- after the swearing-in ceremony
Eligibility - any Member of the House may be a candidate
Voting system - formal public vote by roll call
- a simple majority is required
Procedures / results - the Secretary General presides over the House during the voting
- the Secretary General supervises the voting
- the Secretary General announces the results without delay
- the results may be challenged
STATUS
Status - ranks fourth in the hierarchy of the State
- follows the President of the Senate in the order of precedence
- represents the House with the authorities
- represents the House in international bodies
- the Presidents of the two Chambers preside over joint sittings
- in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions
Board
Material facilities - allowance: 240,000 pesos/yr
+ expense allowance
- official car
- secretariat
- bodyguards
FUNCTIONS
Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions after consulting with the presidents of majority and minority groups
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- refers texts to a committee for study
- examines the admissibility of requests for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting-up of such committees
Chairing of public sittings - can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the House
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- calls for a vote
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the House, based on precedents
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates
Special powers - is responsible for establishing the budget
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff
- organizes the services of Parliament
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber
Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes the floor in legislative debates as a Member of the House
- takes part in voting in case of a tie
- proposes bills or amendments
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
- signs laws before transmitting them to the Head of State for promulgation
- checks the constitutionality of laws

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