What is the Role of a Senator?

Every three years, Filipinos vote for 12 Senators, who would join the 24-seat Senate of the Philippines. They are elected as part of a “staggered” type of elections, where officials are not all elected at the same time. Each Senator serves a term of six years, and plays a key role in the legislative branch of the Philippine government.

You might be wondering… what exactly does a Senator do? Who are qualified to run as Senators? What are the specific roles and duties of the Senate? These are the questions that we will be addressing in this article.

What are the Qualifications of a Senator?

Section 3, Article 6 of the Philippine Constitution states that a candidate for Senator must be:

• At least 35 years old on the day of the elections;
• A natural-born citizen of the Philippines;
• Able to read and write;
• A registered voter; and

A resident of the Philippine for not less than two years preceding the day of elections.

How is the Philippine Senate Organized?

The Senate of the Philippines is also known as the “upper house” of Congress, with the House of Representatives being the “lower house.” Together, they comprise the bicameral legislature of the Philippines.

As per the Constitution, the Philippine Congress is tasked to convene every year -- on the fourth Monday of July to be exact -- for its regular session. On this day, the Senate elects a “Senate President,” while the House of Representatives elects a “Speaker of the House.”

Aside from electing a President, the Senate also elects a President pro tempore (second highest-ranking official) and a Sergeant-at-arms. These are the officers of the Senate.

What are the Roles and Duties of the Senate?

Have you ever thought about what Senators actually do? Here is quick rundown of the roles and duties of Philippine Senators:

Lawmaking

After conducting thorough studies and consultations with various sectors, a Senator files bills, which could eventually get signed into law. He/She also improves or enhances existing laws by making amendments.

Once a bill is approved by the Senate, it is passed to the House of Representatives. When both “houses” have approved of the bill, it is passed to the Office of the President, for final approval and signing into law.

Budget

The Senate analyzes and introduces amendments to the House of Representatives’ budget bill. In other words, Senators play an important role in determining how the national budget is spent.

Appointments

Senators are part of the Commission on Appointments, the body that approves or disapproves appointments made by the President of the Philippines. In this manner, a “check and balance” system of governance is ensured.

Oversights

Oversight refers to the act of reviewing how existing laws are being implemented by government agencies. It also refers to the conduct of investigations, in order to “aid” legislation. Indeed, oversight is an important role of Senators.

Impeachment

In cases where a government official is accused of committing an “impeachable” offense, Senators sit as judges in the impeachment trial.

Treaties

When the Philippine government enters a treaty, it needs to be evaluated by the Senate first. The treaty must be approved by at least two-thirds or 16 out of 24 Senators.

Some Final Thoughts

As you can see, being a Senator entails huge responsibilities, especially when it comes to making new laws or amending existing ones. In fact, we could even say that this position is like a “stepping stone” to higher office (e.g. Presidency), since it involves issues and concerns that are national in scope. Hence, we should choose our Senators wisely.

We hope that you have learned a lot about Senators through this article. To know more about Senators, their duties, and responsibilities, please visit the official website of the Philippine Senate at http://www.senate.gov.ph/.