DEFINITIONS

Might get confusing to some. Hope this helps realign thoughts.

(source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/)


LEGISLATURE: a body of persons having the power to legislate; specifically, an organized body having the authority to make laws for a political unit.

     ex. Our legislature passed a law requiring people to wear safety belts.

LEGISLATOR: one that makes laws especially for a political unit

     ex. The legislators met in an all-night session to hammer out the details of the bill.

LEGISLATION
: the exercise of the power and function of making rules (as laws) that have the force of authority by virtue of their promulgation by an official organ of a state or other organization.

     ex. One of the important functions of government is legislation.

: a matter of business for or under consideration by a legislative body

     ex. She introduced legislation for protecting the environment.

LEGISLATIVE
: belonging to the branch of government that is charged with such powers as making laws, levying and collecting taxes, and making financial appropriations

     ex. the legislative branch of government

: of or relating to a legislature

     ex. she is interested in the legislative process

MEASURE (in the context of legislation): a proposed legislative act

     ex. The legislature has passed a measure aimed at protecting the consumers.

GOVERNMENT
     (This entry comes from Encyclopædia Britannica Concise. For the full entry on government, visit Britannica.com.)

Political system by which a body of people is administered and regulated. Different levels of government typically have different responsibilities. The level closest to those governed is local government. Regional governments comprise a grouping of individual communities. National governments nominally control all the territory within internationally recognized borders and have responsibilities not shared by their subnational counterparts. Most governments exerciseexecutive, legislative (see legislature), and judicial (seejudiciary) powers and split or combine them in various ways. Some also control the religious affairs of their people; others avoid any involvement with religion. Political forms at the national level determine the powers exercised at the subnational levels; these have included autocracy,democracy, fascism, monarchy, oligarchy, plutocracy (government by the wealthy), theocracy, andtotalitarianism.

DEMOCRACY

       (This entry comes from Encyclopædia Britannica Concise. For the full entry on democracy, visit Britannica.com.)

Form of government in which supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodic free elections. In a direct democracy, the public participates in government directly (as in some ancient Greek city-states, some New England town meetings, and some cantons in modern Switzerland). Most democracies today are representative. The concept of representative democracy arose largely from ideas and institutions that developed during the European Middle Ages and the Enlightenment and in the American and French Revolutions. Democracy has come to imply universal suffrage, competition for office, freedom of speech and the press, and the rule of law. See also republic.

Citizen Empowerment through People's CALL

Reposting for this site.

“Through People’s CALL, we aim to proactively support the national government’s call for good governance as well as promote participative governance and citizen empowerment. We believe that through active participation in legislation, citizens can shape the future of their community,” said Pandi Vice Mayor Dr. Maria Rachel Santos-Oca.

                According to Dr. Santos-Oca, People’s CALL aims to establish an avenue for direct collaboration between municipal legislators and their constituents. “Actively consulting our constituents will help enhance the legislative and oversight performance of the Sangguniang Bayan. This is the true essence of sanggunian,” she explained. The Sangguniang Bayan (SB) is the legislature of municipal governments in the Philippines. The Vice Mayor serves as the presiding officer of the SB, whose members consist of elected town councilors and two ex officio members: the president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK). The SB passes ordinances and resolutions for the effective administration of the municipality.

                People’s CALL also aims to strengthen public-private sector partnership in Pandi, Dr. Santos-Oca said. “Through People’s CALL, the Pandi local government will benefit in maximizing community resources in aid of legislation by seeking the voluntary assistance of our constituents in the form of their professional, experiential and technical expertise.”

                To ensure fair and equitable representation, the Pandi Legislative Department Head invited as People’s CALL members reputable Pandi residents who are affiliated with all political parties, from pro-administration to opposition groups. “We want to hear and discuss our constituents’ views and concerns, regardless of their political affiliation. While People’s CALL encourages enlightened dissent and debate, its members are united by the common goal of achieving what is good for the municipality and its residents,” stressed Dr. Santos-Oca.

                People’s CALL is composed of Pandi residents involved in the following sectors: agriculture, business,  cooperatives, education (formal and informal), environment, health care, information technology (IT), legal, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), public transport (Jeepney and Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association), senior citizens, women, and youth. Other invited council members include former SB members, current elected and appointed barangay offficials. A representative from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is invited to observe meetings of the People's CALL. As the Local Vice Chief Executive and Head of the Legislative Department of the LGU, Dr. Santos-Oca will chair People’sCALL.

                People’s CALL members will meet at least once a month to discuss and propose recommendations that may help the SB draft and pass ordinances and resolutions that are appropriate, timely, effective and beneficial to the community. To ensure transparency and promote participative governance, People’s CALL members will also communicate to their constituents in the sector they represent truthful information pertaining to local legislation as well as gather constituent feedback.“The ultimate goal of People’s Call is to ensure constant consultation with our constituents so that local legislators can pass quality legislation that is truly responsive to the needs of the people of Pandi,” said Dr. Santos-Oca.

                The oath taking ceremony will be held at the Inang Pilipina Shrine in Pandi’s historic barrio, Real de Cacarong wherein an estimated 6,000 Katipuneros from various Bulacan towns built a fort to establish the Cacarong Republic, the first organized revolutionary government against Spanish rule that antedated the Malolos and Biak-na-Bato Republics. One of the Katipuneros stationed at that time in Real de Cacarong was a young lieutenant named Gregorio del Pilar.

                According to the Vice Mayor’s League of the Philippines (VMLP), the People’s CALL, having been initiated by the legislative arm of an LGU for its purpose, is the first council of its kind to be organized in the country. “Indeed,” said Dr. Santos-Oca, “it is only fitting to launch this historic event in Real de Cacarong to pay tribute to our brave Filipino heroes who fought for truth, justice and freedom.”  - by EMS

The Foundations of "People's CALL"

People's Council in Aid of Local Legislation (People's CALL) is an innovation in local governance, a call for ALL LOCAL LEGISLATORS to uphold the essence of the terms "sanggunian", "makipag-sanggunian", and "mag-sangguni"

Founded on the following beliefs:

1. That the collective voice of the People is the voice of God; the local government should be able to facilitate the exercise of the People's right to be heard.

2. That, as local legislators are voted by the people to be in the council seat, a reminder is given that each one is there not for his or her personal decision-making; every "yes" or "no" should be a representation of the people's wants and needs, for the common good.

3. That local legislators should actively consult the people, and consult well, prior to any decision-making, especially if it would affect the lives of thousands of constituents, and/or would entail utilization of money from the coffers of the local government unit.

4. That the people should take an active role in all legislative actions. Public officials need to recognize the importance of collaborating with their constituents, to treat them as PARTNERS in local governance, and not merely as a means for power leverage (by dangling dole-out programs).

People's participation should therefore be encouraged and supported. 

For the Sangguniang Bayan/ Panlungsod/ Panlalawigan (Municipal/ City/ Provincial Council) to come up with quality legislation, constant consultation with the people is imperative.