How Philippine Government Is Structured

A closer, article-by-article look at how the Philippine government is organized — territory, the three branches, the independent commissions, and local government.

National Territory (Article I)

Defines what comprises Philippine territory: the archipelago, all islands and waters embraced within it, and all other territories over which the Philippines has sovereignty.

• • Archipelagic doctrine — treats the waters connecting the islands as internal Philippine waters, not international waters, binding the archipelago together as one territorial unit
• • Internal waters — waters landward of the baselines, treated as if they were land territory
• • Territorial sea — extends a set distance from the baselines, where the Philippines exercises sovereignty
• • Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) — a wider zone where the Philippines has rights to exploit resources (fishing, oil, minerals), though not full territorial sovereignty

Legislative Department (Article VI)

Congress is composed of two chambers:

• • Senate — 24 members, 6-year terms, elected nationally, minimum age 35
• • House of Representatives — district representatives plus party-list seats, 3-year terms, minimum age 25

How a bill becomes a law: introduced → committee review → three readings in each chamber → reconciled between chambers if versions differ → sent to the President, who signs, vetoes, or lets it lapse into law after 30 days unsigned. A veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in each chamber, voting separately.

A quorum (the minimum number of members present) is required for Congress to validly conduct business.

Executive Department (Article VII)

• • President — 6-year term, no re-election, minimum age 40, at least 10 years of Philippine residency immediately before the election
• • Vice President — 6-year term, can be re-elected once
• • Presidential succession — if the President is removed, dies, resigns, or is incapacitated, the Vice President succeeds
• • Commander-in-Chief powers — the President leads the armed forces and can call them out to prevent lawless violence
• • Martial law and states of emergency — the President can declare these under specific constitutional limits, subject to congressional and judicial review

Judicial Department (Article VIII)

• • Judicial power includes the authority to settle actual controversies and to determine whether government action was done with grave abuse of discretion
• • Judicial review — the power to declare a law, treaty, or government act unconstitutional
• • The Supreme Court is composed of a Chief Justice and Associate Justices, appointed by the President from a list prepared by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC)
• • Justices generally serve until a mandatory retirement age, helping preserve judicial independence from short-term political pressure

Constitutional Commissions (Article IX)

Three independent bodies, none subordinate to the other branches:

• • Civil Service Commission (CSC) — the central personnel agency governing government employment (the very body that administers the exam you're studying for)
• • Commission on Elections (COMELEC) — enforces and administers election laws
• • Commission on Audit (COA) — examines and audits government revenue and expenditures

Local Government (Article X)

Establishes the hierarchy of local government units: provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays, plus provisions for autonomous regions (like BARMM). The Local Government Code (RA 7160) implements the details of how these units function and what powers are devolved to them.

Eligible PH is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Civil Service Commission. This page is provided as general guidance — always verify current requirements, deadlines, and procedures directly with the CSC.