Section 17-21

Section 17-19: Electoral Tribunal and Commission on Appointments in Congress
Section 17
The Senate and the House of Representatives shall each have an Electoral Tribunal which shall be the sole judge of any contests relating to the:
• Election
• Returns
• qualifications of their Respective members.
Section 18
There shall be a Commission on Appointments consisting of:
• Twelve Senators
• Twelve members of the House of Representative, elected by each House, on the basis of proportional representation of the political parties therein.
 The President of the Senate shall be the Chairman ex-officio of the Commission, but shall not vote, except in case of tie.
Section 19
 The Electoral Tribunals and the Commission of Appointments shall be constituted within thirty days after the Senate and the House of
 Representatives shall have been organized with the election of their President and Speaker, respectively.
 The Commission on Appointments shall meet only while the Chairman or a majority of its Members, to discharge such powers and functions as are herein conferred upon it.
Electoral Tribunal
Composition, constitution and jurisdiction
 It is created in each House of Congress
 Composed of 9 members
 3 Justices of Supreme Court
 6 members of the Senate or the House of Representatives
 Shall be constituted within 30 days
 It has exclusive jurisdiction over all contests
Reason for creation
 Under the 1973 constitution
 Given to the Commission on Elections
 To be free from the control of political parties
 To insure a fair and impartial determination of election contests
 Enables Congress to concentrate on its proper function, lawmaking
Commission on Appointments in Congress
Composition, constitution and nature
 Composed of 25 members
 President of the Senate as ex officio chairman
 12 senators
 12 members of the House of Representatives
 Constituted within 30 days after the Senate & House of Representatives have