These local units can then pass resolutions and ordinances which are in reality laws for the respective localities. But, generally speaking, the Legislature cannot delegate its legislative powers. There is a distinction drawn between the delegation of power to make the law and the delegation of power to make regulations for the enforcement of the law. The first is not permissible; the latter is permissible. Thus the Public Utility Commissioner is charged with the regulation of transportation, and is empowered even to fix the rates of public service companies. Thus also, the Governor-General may be empowered by law to put into effect or suspend a statute upon the fulfillment of certain conditions. But these are simply regulations for the proper enforcement of a previous law. 116. Restrictions as to Form of Legislation. - Subject to the restrictions named by the Jones Law, the Philippine Legislature is free to enact the measures it deems best for the Philippines; but in the methods and ways of legislation it must follow certain forms. A bill must relate only to one general subject, and that subject must be stated in the title of the bill. If a subject has been included within the body of a bill and it is manifestly outside the general purpose of the bill as stated in the title, that part of the bill will have no effect, or the entire Act may be a nullity. An example is the recent public land law, which has been declared by the Supreme Court as inapplicable to the private lands of the Philippines. The general title of the bill is the Public Land Act, and the law is therefore intended to cover only public lands, hence no provision in it could be held to apply to lands owned by private individuals. 117. Bills Which Require Presidential Approval. — All bills relating to the tariff, public lands, timber and mining, immi gration, and the currency or coinage must receive the signature of the President of the United States before they may be made effective. The procedure for submitting Acts for presidential approval is for the bill as approved by the Senate and the House to be sent to the Governor-General, who then transmits it to the President. The Jones Law says that if the President does not sign the bill within six months after its submission, then it becomes automatically a law. That has been interpreted to mean six months after the bill reaches Washington. 118. Veto Power of the Governor-General. The Governor-General is empowered by the Jones Law to refuse his signature to bills passed by the Legislature. He is also empowered by the Jones Law to veto any item of an appropriation Act. He may strike out any amount of money which is carried in an appropriation bill without nullifying the effect of the other parts of the bill. The authority to veto items in appropriation bills has not as yet been exercised by the Governor-General, possibly because of the establishment of the budget system. In 119. Administrative Functions of the Legislature. the present Philippine Government, the Philippine Legislature has been given great power and influence. The two presiding officers of the Houses of the Legislature, as members of the Council of State, participate in administrative functions. Together with the Governor-General, they control the general conduct of the national corporations, like the Manila Railroad Company, the Philippine National Bank, the National Development Company, and others. The joint approval of these three officials is also necessary to authorize funds for public emergencies. Besides law-making the Philippine Senate has three administrative functions to perform: 1. It confirms the appointments made by the GovernorGeneral. 2. It approves the reservations made by the GovernorGeneral of any Friar lands, and the concentration of the inhabitants from outlying barrios for the maintenance of public order. 3. The Governor-General must secure the consent of the Senate in changing the import duties on rice established by the Philippine Tariff Act. 120. The Philippine Senate. The Philippine Senate succeeded the Philippine Commission as the upper House of the Philippine Legislature. It consists of twenty-four members, two Senators from each of the twelve senatorial districts created by the Jones Law. The twelve senatorial districts of the Philippine Islands are as follows: First district: Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur (Abra). Second district: La Union, Pangasinan, and Zambales. can. Fourth district: Bataan, Rizal, Manila, and Laguna. Fifth district: Batangas, Mindoro, Tayabas (Marinduque), and Cavite. Sixth district: Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur. Seventh district: Iloilo and Capiz (Romblon). Eighth district: Occidental Negros, Oriental Negros, Antique, and Palawan. Ninth district: Leyte and Samar. Tenth district: Cebu. Eleventh district: Surigao, Misamis, and Bohol. Twelfth district: The Mountain Province, Baguio, Nueva Vizcaya, and the former Department of Mindanao and Sulu, 4; 5 Twenty-two of the twenty-four Senators are elected for six years by the qualified voters, and two are appointed by the Governor-General. One-half of the elective membership is changed every three years by election. A Senator must be a qualified elector, over thirty years of age, and be able to read and write either Spanish or English. He must also have been a resident of the Philippines for at least two consecutive years and an actual resident of the district for at least one year immediately prior to his election. 121. The House of Representatives.The House of Representatives is composed of ninety-one members, nine of whom are appointed by the Governor-General to represent the provinces inhabited by non-Christian people. There must be at least one Representative in each province. To be a Representative one must be a qualified elector, over twenty-five years old, able to read and write either Spanish or English, and must have been an actual resident of the district for at least one year immediately prior to his election. Representatives are apportioned under the old law among the different provinces, as follows: |