| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Kongreso / Congress |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Senado / Senate |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan / House of Representatives
|
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
President of the Senate |
| Term |
- duration: 3 years, renewable;
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of the Senate, absolute incapacity, removal |
| Appointment |
- elected by all Members of the Senate
- election is held during the first sitting of the session following every periodical election of Senators
- after Members' mandates are validated and after Members are sworn in |
| Eligibility |
- any Senator who is nominated on the floor can be candidate
- formal notification is required |
| Voting system |
- formal vote by voice vote or resolution - nominal vote is held if there are many candidates
- if there is only one candidate the method of voting is by voice vote or resolution
- if there is more than one candidate the majority of votes is required |
| Procedures / results |
- the former President or the President pro tempore presides over the Senate during the voting
- the former President or the President pro tempore supervises the voting
- the former President or the President pro tempore announces the results without any delay
- the results can be challenged |
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks third in the hierarchy of State
- may be called upon (after the Vice-President) to replace the Head of State in the event of the latter's absence
- the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House preside jointly the joint sittings
- represents the Senate with the public authorities
- is ex officio member of bodies outside the Parliament like the National Security Council
- represents the Senate in international bodies
- in the absence of the President, the President pro tempore can assume his/her role and functions |
| Board |
|
| Material facilities |
- allowance
- office with equipment and communication facilities
- summer residence in Baguio City
- official car
- secretariat and additional staff
- body guards and military protection |
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- convenes sessions
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- refers texts to a committee for study
- can examine the admissibility of request for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, propose or decide on the setting up of such committees, according to the rules |
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can open sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities
- checks the quorum
- interprets the rules or other regulations according to precedents |
| Special powers |
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff
- organizes the services of Parliament (can diminish or increase the number of authorised staff)
- plays a specific role in the conduct of foreign affairs or defence matters as Chairman of the Commission on Appointments
- 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 leaving his chair of President
- takes part in voting, is obliged to do so when his vote is decisive
- proposes bills or amendments
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
- can check the constitutionality aspect of a bill as well as any Senator |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
