Powers or Functions of the Philippine Legislative Department
The primary function of the Philippine Congress is to legislate. The Constitution, however, has also given it powers which are non-legislative in character. The powers of the legislative department may be classified into: (1) General legislative power It is the power to enact laws intended as rules of conduct to govern the relations among individuals or between the individuals and the State. Congress can enact any law as long as it is not contrary to the Constitution. Unless otherwise decreed by a competent court, a law is presumed constitutional. (2) Specific powers These are powers wherein the Constitution expressly directs or authorizes the Congress to exercise. Examples of these are the power to choose who shall become President in case two or more candidates have an equal and highest number of votes (Art. VII, Sec. 4, par 4.), to confirm certain appointment by the President, (Ibid., Sec. 16), to appropriate money (Sec. 29[1]), to impos...