THE RULES OF THE SENATE Contents Page Rule I Elective Officers ............................................................................ 7 Rule II Election Of Officers ...................................................................... 7 Rule III The President, His Duties And Powers ...................................... 8 Rule IV The President Pro Tempore, His Duties And Powers ............. 9 Rule V The Secretary, His Duties And Powers .................................... 10 Rule VI The Sergeant-At-Arms, His Duties And Powers .................... 12 Rule VII The Acting Secretary And The Acting Sergeant-At-Arms .................................................. 13 Rule VIII Term Of Office Of Elective Officers ......................................... 13 Rule IX Organization Of The Senate .................................................... 14 Rule X The Committees ........................................................................... 14 1) Rules .............................................................................................. 14 2) Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations ........ 14 3) Accounts ........................................................................................ 15 4) Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform ............................... 15 5) Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies ...................... 15 6) Basic Education, Arts and Culture.......................................... 16 7) Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation ........................................................... 16 8) Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes ........... 17 9) Cooperatives ... ............................................................................ 17 10) Cultural Communities ............................................................... 17 11) Economic Affairs ......................................................................... 18 12) Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation .................... 18 This latest and updated edition 13) Energy ............................................................................................ 18 was edited and published by the: 14) Environment and Natural Resources and Climate Change .................................................................. 18 Legislative Publications Service (LPS) 15) Ethics and Privileges ................................................................. 19 Senate of the Philippines 16) Finance.......................................................................................... 19 17) Foreign Relations ....................................................................... 20 Pasay City 18) Games and Amusement ............................................................. 20 19) Government Corporations and Public Enterprises ............. 20 JANUARY 2020 Page Page 20) Health and Demography ..................................................... 20 Rule XXIII Reading Of Bills And Joint Resolutions ...................... 41 21) Higher, Technical and Vocational Education ................ 21 Rule XXIV Consideration Of The Matters Appearing 22) Justice and Human Rights .................................................. 21 In The Calendar For Special Orders ............................. 42 23) Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development....................................................... 21 Rule XXV Consideration Of, And Debates On, Bills .................... 43 24) Local Government ................................................................ 22 Rule XXVI Manner Of Having The Floor ......................................... 44 25) National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation......................................... 22 Rule XXVII Duration Of Debates......................................................... 44 26) Public Information and Mass Media ............................... 23 Rule XXVIII Bills With Preamble ......................................................... 45 27) Public Order and Dangerous Drugs ................................. 23 Rule XXIX Amendments....................................................................... 45 28) Public Services ...................................................................... 23 29) Public Works ......................................................................... 24 Rule XXX Manner Of Presenting Motions ..................................... 46 30) Science and Technology ..................................................... 24 Rule XXXI Precedence Of Motions ................................................... 47 31) Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development ........... 24 Rule XXXII Privileged Motions........................................................... 47 32) Sports....................................................................................... 24 33) Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation Rule XXXIII Motion To Reconsider And Its Requisites ................... 48 and Futures Thinking .......................................................... 24 Rule XXXIV Unparliamentary Acts And Language ......................... 48 34) Tourism ................................................................................... 25 Rule XXXV Suspension And Adjournment Of The Session ........... 49 35) Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship ........................ 25 36) Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement .................. 25 Rule XXXVI Concurrence In Treaties .................................................. 51 37) Ways and Means ................................................................... 25 Rule XXXVII Reading And Inclusion Of Certain Documents .......... 52 38) Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality ............................................................ 26 Rule XXXVIII Point Of Order ................................................................... 52 39) Youth........................................................................................ 26 Rule XXXIX Question Of Privilege ...................................................... 53 Rule XI Meetings And Reports Of The Committees ..................... 28 Rule XL Privilege To Speak On Matters Of Public Interest .... 53 Rule XII Reports Of Conference Committees .................................. 31 Rule XLI Voting .................................................................................. 54 Rule XIII Special Orders ....................................................................... 32 Rule XLII Unanimous Consent ......................................................... 55 Rule XIV Senate Sessions ..................................................................... 33 Rule XLIII Suspension Of The Rules ................................................. 55 Rule XV Quorum ................................................................................... 34 Rule XLIV Unfinished Business ......................................................... 56 Rule XVI Calendars ............................................................................... 35 Rule XLV Petitions And Memorials Of Private Persons Or Foreign States ............................... 56 Rule XVII Messages ................................................................................. 35 Rule XVIII Order Of Business ................................................................. 36 Rule XLVI Appearance of Cabinet Members ................................. 56 Rule XIX Journal .................................................................................... 37 Rule XLVII Executive Session .............................................................. 58 Rule XX Record Of The Senate ...................................................... 38 Rule XLVIII Documents Filed With The Senate .................................. 59 Rule XXI Requisites Of Bills ............................................................ 39 Rule XLIX Procedure On Vetoed Bills ............................................... 60 Rule XXII Filing And Consideration Of Bills Rule L Supplementary Rules ......................................................... 60 And Resolutions ................................................................ 40 Rule LI Amendments To, Or Revision Of, The Rules ................. 61 Page Rule LII Date Of Taking Effect ........................................................... 61 • Rules Of Procedure Governing Inquiries In Aid Of Legislation ..................... 63 • Resolution Adopting the Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials........................................................................................ 79 • The Constitution Of The Republic Of The Philippines ............................................................................ 95 Republic of the Philippines SENATE Rules of the Senate By virtue of Section 16, Subsections (1) and (3), of Article VI of the Constitution, the following Rules are hereby adopted and shall be known as the “Rules of the Senate.” RULE I Elective Officers SECTION 1. The Senate shall elect, in the manner hereinafter provided, a President, a President Pro Tempore, a Secretary, and a Sergeant-at-Arms. These officers shall take their oath of office before entering into the discharge of their duties. RULE II Election Of Officers SEC. 2. The officers of the Senate shall be elected by the majority vote of all its Members. Should there be more than one candidate for the same office, a nominal vote shall be taken; otherwise, the elections shall be viva voce or by