Impeachment in the Philippines
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Impeachment in the Philippines is the power of the Congress of the Philippines to place formal charges against a government official who is impeachable, while in service. After being impeached by the House of Representatives, the official in question is then put on trial on the Senate, after which if convicted, the official is removed from office.
Only one President of the Philippines has been impeached, Joseph Estrada.[citation needed] His trial though was not completed.
Contents |
[edit] Impeachable officials
- President of the Philippines
- Vice-President of the Philippines
- Justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
- Members of the Constitutional Commissions (the Commission on Elections, Civil Service Commission and the Commission on Audit)
- The Ombudsman
[edit] Impeaching officials
- A citizen with an endorsement of a Congressman, or a member of the House of Representative may file charges.
- The House Committee on Justice will decide if the complaint has substance, via a majority vote.
- The House of Representatives will vote upon if the official will be impeached, via a one-thirds vote. If the vote passes through, the complain will become the "Articles of Impeachment," and the House will appoint prosecutors both from its membership and from private individuals.
- The Senate will then act as court of justice. An official will be convicted, via a two-thirds vote.
- The official will then be removed from office. Additional criminal charges may then be filed.
[edit] Notes
- If the President of the Philippines is on trial, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside but would not vote.
- Only one impeachment proceeding against an official is allowed within a period of a year.
[edit] References
- Rules of Procedure in Impeachment Proceedings
- Archives for Arroyo Impeachment
- SWS Poll: 79% of Pinoys wanted GMA impeached
