17th Congress of the Philippines


The 17th Congress of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives, met from July 25, 2016, until June 4, 2019, during the first three years of Rodrigo Duterte's presidency. The convening of the 17th Congress followed the 2016 general elections, which replaced half of the Senate membership and the entire membership of the House of Representatives.

Leadership

Senate

House of Representatives

Sessions

  • First regular session: July 25, 2016 – May 31, 2017
  • Second regular session: July 24, 2017 – May 30, 2018
  • Third regular session: July 23, 2018 – May 27, 2019

Composition

Both chambers of Congress are divided into parties and blocs. While members are elected via parties, blocs are the basis for committee memberships. Only members of the majority and minority blocs are accorded committee memberships. This is how blocs are determined:
  • Majority bloc: All members who voted for the Senate President or Speaker during the Senate presidential or speakership election.
  • Minority bloc: All members who voted for the second-placed candidate during the Senate presidential or speakership election.
  • Independent minority bloc: All members who did not vote for the winning or second-best nominee during the Senate presidential or speakership election.
  • Independent bloc: All members who abstained from voting during the Senate presidential or speakership election.
  • Not a member of any bloc: All members who have not voted during the Senate presidential or speakership election.
In the speakership election, several members abstained from voting. They, along with the members who voted for the losing candidate voted on who would be the minority leader.

Membership

Senate

The following are the terms of the senators of this Congress, according to the date of election:

Committees

Constitutional bodies

Senate committees

*more popularly known as the Blue Ribbon Committee.

Laws passed

The 17th Congress passed a total of 379 bills which were signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte. 120 of these laws were national in scope, while 259 were local. Some of these laws include: