Philippines

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The Commission on Elections of the Philippines, or more commonly known as COMELEC is an independent government body responsible for running elections in the country's democratic government. The body was created by an act of amendment to the 1935 Constitution in 1940. The body exercises quasi-executive and quasi-judicial powers in electoral matters. The political history of the Philippines as a unified archipelago begins with the rule of the Spanish monarchs of the Philippines. ... The President of the Philippines is the head of state and government of the Republic of the Philippines. ... The young Gloria Macapagal (far right) and her family; when this picture was taken, her father Diosdado was the President of the Philippines. ... Seal of the Vice President of the Philippines The Vice President of the Philippines is the second highest executive official of the Philippine government. ... Manuel Noli de Castro, Jr. ... The Executive Departments of the Philippines is the largest component of the national executive branch of the government of the Philippines. ... Philippine Congress Session Hall The legislative power is vested in Congress, which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. ... Republic Acts are laws in the Philippines, created by the Congress and signed by the president. ... The Senate of the Philippines is the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, the Congress of the Philippines. ... The House of Representatives (Kapulungan ng mga Kinatawan in Filipino) is the lower chamber of the Congress of the Philippines. ... The Supreme Court of the Philippines is the countrys highest judicial court, as well as the court of last resort. ... The Philippine Ombudsman is an ombudsman responsible for investigating and prosecuting government officials in the Philippines who are allegedly guilty of crimes. ... Political parties in Philippines lists political parties in Philippines. ... Elections in Philippines gives information on election and election results in Philippines. ... Map of the Philippines showing the regions and their provinces (click for larger version). ... Map of the Philippines showing the regions and provinces (click for larger version). ... // Foreign policy The fundamental Philippine attachment to democracy and human rights is reflected in its foreign policy and is also a staunch and a close ally of the United States. ... Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ... Image File history File links COMELEC_Seal. ... Elections in Philippines gives information on election and election results in Philippines. ... Democracy is a form of government under which the power to alter the laws and structures of government lies, ultimately, with the citizenry. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

The Commission is headed by a chairperson and assisted by five commissioners,

Current officials

• Chairperson: Benjamin S. Abalos, Sr
• Commissioners:
  • Resurreccion Z. Borra
  • Florentino A. Tuason, Jr.
  • Romeo A. Brawner
  • Rene V. Sarmiento
  • Nicodemo T. Ferrer

History

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) was created by a 1940 amendment to the 1935 Constitution of the Philippines. Before Comelec was created, supervision over the conduct of elections was made by the Executive Bureau, an office under the Department of Interior and later directly by the Department upon the abolition of the Executive Bureau.

Upon the approval of the 1940 Amendments, the administrative control of elections exercised by the Secretary of Interior was transfered to the Comelec. the Comelec was vested with the exclusive charge of enforcing all laws relative to elections and the power to decide all questions affective elections, except those involving the right to vote, which was left to final judicial determination.

under Commonwealth Act No. 607, the Comelec was organized with 39 staff members including the Chaiman and the two Commissioners.

The 1973 Constitution of the Philippines enlarged the membership of the Comelec from three to nine members. As in the 1935 Constitution, the Chairman and Commissioners have staggered terms of office and they may be removed from office only by impeachement.

Previous Officials of the Comelec

1940

• • Pedro Concepcion, Chairman
  • Jose C Abreu
  • Rufino Luna

1941

• • Jose Lopez Vito, Chairman
  • Jose C. Abreu
  • Rufino Luna

1945

• • Jose Lopez Vito, Chairman
  • Francisco Enage
  • Jedd Anthony C. Taon

1947

External link

• Official Site