Batasang Pambansa

The Batasang Pambansa (English: National Assembly; lit. 'National Legislature'; often referred to simply as the Batasan[1]) was the former parliament of the Philippines, established as an interim assembly in 1978 and later as an official body in 1984. It was the fourth unicameral legislature in Philippine history. Members of the Batasang Pambansa were referred to as "Mambabatas Pambansa", (English: Member of Parliament, literally "National Lawmaker"), shortened to "MP".[2]

For the building known as the "Batasang Pambansa", see Batasang Pambansa Complex.
See also: Interim Batasang Pambansa (1978–1984) and Regular Batasang Pambansa (1984–1986).

East Front of the Batasang Pambansâ Complex in Batasan Hills, Quezon City, the former meeting place of the Batasang Pambansâ

The Batasan was instituted under the 1973 Constitution promulgated by then-President Ferdinand Marcos, replacing the earlier Congress of the Philippines established by the 1935 Commonwealth Constitution. It was abolished immediately after the People Power Revolution in 1986, and Congress was restored with the passage of the 1987 Constitution.

History

The original provisions of the 1973 Constitution, which was ratified on January 17, 1973, provided for the establishment of a unicameral National Assembly. Upon its ratification, an interim National Assembly composed of the President and Vice President of the Philippines, those who served as President of the 1971 Constitutional Convention, the Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and those Delegates to the 1971 Constitutional Convention, was established and functioned as the Legislature. Before the Regular Batasang Pambansa convened, the 120-member Interim Batasan served as the national legislature. The body was composed of the incumbent President, representatives elected from different regions and from different sectors, and select Cabinet officials appointed by the President. In 1981, the semi-parliamentary legislature was formally convened as the Batasang Pambansa, and in 1985, some dissident members unsuccessfully tried to impeach President Marcos.

The Batasang Pambansa was subsequently dissolved when Proclamation No. 3, popularly known as the 1986 Freedom Constitution, was promulgated on March 25, 1986.

References
  1. Journal of the Batasan, Volume 1, 1981, page 21
  2. Supreme Court Reports, Annotated, Volume 140, Central Book Supply, Incorporated, 1986, page 140

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