List of senators of the Philippines facts for kids

The Senate of the Philippines is like the "upper house" or a senior part of the country's law-making body, called Congress. It has 24 senators. Each senator is elected for a six-year term. They can be re-elected once. People vote for up to twelve candidates, and the twelve who get the most votes win.

Before 1916, the Philippine Assembly was the only law-making body. From 1935 to 1941, it was called the National Assembly. From 1978 to 1986, it was the Batasang Pambansa (National Legislature). During times when the legislature had two parts, the upper part was always known as the "Senate." Between 1972 and 1978, and again from 1986 to 1987, the president had the power to make laws.

How Senators Serve Their Terms

Senators usually serve for six years. Here are some details about how their terms have worked over time:

Early Senate Terms (Before 1935)

• For senators elected under the Jones Law, their terms started on election day. They ended six years later.
• In the very first legislature, the candidate who got the most votes served for six years. The person who came in second served for three years.
• A new constitution was approved after the 10th Legislature. This new constitution ended the Senate. So, senators' terms finished when the 1935 constitution began on September 16, 1935.

Senate Terms (1935 to 1987)

• For senators elected under the 1935 constitution, their terms started on December 30 after their election. They ended on December 30 six years later.
• Senators elected in 1941 faced a unique situation. The first Congress met on July 4, 1945. This was almost four years after their terms officially began on December 30, 1941. Since no senatorial elections happened during that time, it was decided by drawing lots who would serve until 1946 and who would serve until 1947.
• President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law on September 23, 1971. The Senate was not in session at that time. He stopped Congress from meeting again. A new constitution approved in 1973 officially ended the Senate.

Senate Terms (Since 1987)

• For senators elected under the 1987 constitution, their terms begin on June 30 after their election. They end on June 30 six years later.
• For the first Congress after the 1987 constitution was approved, senators served from June 30, 1987, to June 30, 1992.
• For the second Congress after the constitution was approved, the senators who ranked 1st to 12th in the 1992 election served from June 30, 1992, to June 30, 1998. Those who ranked 13th to 24th served from June 30, 1992, to June 30, 1995.

See also

• List of members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
• List of women Senators of the Philippines