REPUBLIC ACT No. 7941
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ELECTION OF PARTY-LIST REPRESENTATIVES THROUGH THE PARTY-LIST SYSTEM, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Section 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the "Party-List System Act."
Section 2. Declaration of part y. The State shall promote proportional representation in the election of representatives to the House of Representatives through a party-list system of registered national, regional and sectoral parties or organizations or coalitions thereof, which will enable Filipino citizens belonging to marginalized and under-represented sectors, organizations and parties, and who lack well-defined political constituencies but who could contribute to the formulation and enactment of appropriate legislation that will benefit the nation as a whole, to become members of the House of Representatives. Towards this end, the State shall develop and guarantee a full, free and open party system in order to attain the broadcast possible representation of party, sectoral or group interests in the House of Representatives by enhancing their chances to compete for and win seats in the legislature, and shall provide the simplest...
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Republic Acts
PARTY-LIST SYSTEM ACT
Republic Act No. 7941
Title: Party-List System Act
Declaration of Policy (Section 2):
- Promotes proportional representation in the House of Representatives through a party-list system.
- Enables marginalized and underrepresented sectors to be represented in the House.
- Develops and guarantees a full, free, and open party system.
Definition of Terms (Section 3):
- Party-list system: Mechanism of proportional representation for national, regional, and sectoral parties or organizations.
- Party: A political party, sectoral party, or coalition of parties.
- Political party: An organized group advocating an ideology or platform for government.
- Sectoral party: An organized group belonging to sectors enumerated in Section 5.
- Sectoral organization: A group or coalition of citizens sharing similar attributes or concerns.
- Coalition: An aggrupation of registered parties or organizations for political or election purposes.
Manifestation to Participate (Section 4):
- Registered parties, organizations, or coalitions must file a manifestation to participate in the party-list system not later than 90 days before the election.
Registration (Section 5):
- Organized groups may register as a party, organization, or coalition by filing a petition with the COMELEC not later than 90 days before the election.
- Sectors include labor, peasant, fisherfolk, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, elderly, handicapped, women, youth, veterans, overseas workers, and professionals.
Refusal and/or Cancellation of Registration (Section 6):
- COMELEC may refuse or cancel registration on grounds such as being a religious sect, advocating violence, being a foreign party, receiving foreign support, violating election laws, making untruthful statements, ceasing to exist for at least 1 year, or failing to obtain at least 2% of votes in the last two elections.
Certified List of Registered Parties (Section 7):
- COMELEC shall prepare a certified list of registered parties, organizations, or coalitions not later than 60 days before the election.
Nomination of Party-List Representatives (Section 8):
- Each registered party, organization, or coalition shall submit a list of at least 5 names as nominees not later than 45 days before the election.
- A person can be nominated in only one list and must give consent in writing.
- The list cannot include candidates for elective office or those who lost in the immediately preceding election.
Qualifications of Party-List Nominees (Section 9):
- Must be a natural-born Filipino citizen, a registered voter, a resident for at least 1 year, able to read and write, a bona fide member of the party or organization for at least 90 days, and at least 25 years old on election day.
- For youth sector nominees, age must be between 25 and 30 years old.
Manner of Voting (Section 10):
- Every voter is entitled to two votes: one for a district representative and one for a party, organization, or coalition.
- COMELEC shall conduct an information campaign on the party-list system.
Number of Party-List Representatives (Section 11):
- Party-list representatives shall constitute 20% of the total members of the House of Representatives.
- For the May 1998 elections, the first five major political parties shall not participate in the party-list system.
- Parties, organizations, and coalitions receiving at least 2% of the total votes shall be entitled to one seat each, and those garnering more than 2% shall be entitled to additional seats proportionately, but not more than three seats each.
Procedure in Allocating Seats (Section 12):
- COMELEC shall tally all votes nationwide, rank the parties, organizations, or coalitions, and allocate seats proportionately according to the percentage of votes obtained.
How Party-List Representatives are Chosen (Section 13):
- Party-list representatives shall be proclaimed by COMELEC based on the list of names submitted by the respective parties, organizations, or coalitions according to their ranking.
Term of Office (Section 14):
- Party-list representatives shall be elected for a term of 3 years, beginning at noon on the 30th day of June following their election.
- No party-list representative shall serve for more than 3 consecutive terms.
Change of Affiliation; Effect (Section 15):
- Any elected party-list representative who changes political party or sectoral affiliation during their term shall forfeit their seat.
- If the change occurs within 6 months before an election, they shall not be eligible for nomination under their new party or organization.
Vacancy (Section 16):
- In case of vacancy, the next representative from the list of nominees shall automatically fill the seat for the unexpired term.
- If the list is exhausted, the party, organization, or coalition shall submit additional nominees.
Rights of Party-List Representatives (Section 17):
- Party-list representatives shall be entitled to the same salaries and emoluments as regular members of the House of Representatives.
Rules and Regulations (Section 18):
- COMELEC shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the purposes of this Act.
Appropriations (Section 19):
- The amount necessary for implementation shall be provided in the regular appropriations for COMELEC starting fiscal year 1996.
- Starting 1995, COMELEC is authorized to utilize savings and other available funds for its information campaign on the party-list system.
Separability Clause (Section 20):
- If any part of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts shall remain valid and effective.
Repealing Clause (Section 21):
- All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed.
Effectivity (Section 22):
- This Act shall take effect 15 days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
Declaration of Policy (Section 2):
- Promotes proportional representation in the House of Representatives through a party-list system.
- Enables marginalized and underrepresented sectors to be represented in the House.
- Develops and guarantees a full, free, and open party system.
Definition of Terms (Section 3):
- Party-list system: Mechanism of proportional representation for national, regional, and sectoral parties or organizations.
- Party: A political party, sectoral party, or coalition of parties.
- Political party: An organized group advocating an ideology or platform for government.
- Sectoral party: An organized group belonging to sectors enumerated in Section 5.
- Sectoral organization: A group or coalition of citizens sharing similar attributes or concerns.
- Coalition: An aggrupation of registered parties or organizations for political or election purposes.
Manifestation to Participate (Section 4):
- Registered parties, organizations, or coalitions must file a manifestation to participate in the party-list system not later than 90 days before the election.
Registration (Section 5):
- Organized groups may register as a party, organization, or coalition by filing a petition with the COMELEC not later than 90 days before the election.
- Sectors include labor, peasant, fisherfolk, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, elderly, handicapped, women, youth, veterans, overseas workers, and professionals.
Refusal and/or Cancellation of Registration (Section 6):
- COMELEC may refuse or cancel registration on grounds such as being a religious sect, advocating violence, being a foreign party, receiving foreign support, violating election laws, making untruthful statements, ceasing to exist for at least 1 year, or failing to obtain at least 2% of votes in the last two elections.
Certified List of Registered Parties (Section 7):
- COMELEC shall prepare a certified list of registered parties, organizations, or coalitions not later than 60 days before the election.
Nomination of Party-List Representatives (Section 8):
- Each registered party, organization, or coalition shall submit a list of at least 5 names as nominees not later than 45 days before the election.
- A person can be nominated in only one list and must give consent in writing.
- The list cannot include candidates for elective office or those who lost in the immediately preceding election.
Qualifications of Party-List Nominees (Section 9):
- Must be a natural-born Filipino citizen, a registered voter, a resident for at least 1 year, able to read and write, a bona fide member of the party or organization for at least 90 days, and at least 25 years old on election day.
- For youth sector nominees, age must be between 25 and 30 years old.
Manner of Voting (Section 10):
- Every voter is entitled to two votes: one for a district representative and one for a party, organization, or coalition.
- COMELEC shall conduct an information campaign on the party-list system.
Number of Party-List Representatives (Section 11):
- Party-list representatives shall constitute 20% of the total members of the House of Representatives.
- For the May 1998 elections, the first five major political parties shall not participate in the party-list system.
- Parties, organizations, and coalitions receiving at least 2% of the total votes shall be entitled to one seat each, and those garnering more than 2% shall be entitled to additional seats proportionately, but not more than three seats each.
Procedure in Allocating Seats (Section 12):
- COMELEC shall tally all votes nationwide, rank the parties, organizations, or coalitions, and allocate seats proportionately according to the percentage of votes obtained.
How Party-List Representatives are Chosen (Section 13):
- Party-list representatives shall be proclaimed by COMELEC based on the list of names submitted by the respective parties, organizations, or coalitions according to their ranking.
Term of Office (Section 14):
- Party-list representatives shall be elected for a term of 3 years, beginning at noon on the 30th day of June following their election.
- No party-list representative shall serve for more than 3 consecutive terms.
Change of Affiliation; Effect (Section 15):
- Any elected party-list representative who changes political party or sectoral affiliation during their term shall forfeit their seat.
- If the change occurs within 6 months before an election, they shall not be eligible for nomination under their new party or organization.
Vacancy (Section 16):
- In case of vacancy, the next representative from the list of nominees shall automatically fill the seat for the unexpired term.
- If the list is exhausted, the party, organization, or coalition shall submit additional nominees.
Rights of Party-List Representatives (Section 17):
- Party-list representatives shall be entitled to the same salaries and emoluments as regular members of the House of Representatives.
Rules and Regulations (Section 18):
- COMELEC shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the purposes of this Act.
Appropriations (Section 19):
- The amount necessary for implementation shall be provided in the regular appropriations for COMELEC starting fiscal year 1996.
- Starting 1995, COMELEC is authorized to utilize savings and other available funds for its information campaign on the party-list system.
Separability Clause (Section 20):
- If any part of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts shall remain valid and effective.
Repealing Clause (Section 21):
- All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed.
Effectivity (Section 22):
- This Act shall take effect 15 days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.