a According to Article 1. Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution, legislative power shall be vested in the Congress of the Philippines, which shall consist of the houses of 2. and 3. .The Senate shall be composed of 4. Senators who shall be elected at large by the qualified voters of the Philippines, as may be provided by law; the House of Representatives shall be composed of not more than 5. (unless otherwise fixed by law), 6. percent of whom must be Party-list representatives. The qualifications to become 'a senator, as stipulated in the constitution, are: a natural born citizen of the Philippines; at least 7. years old; is able to read and write ja registered voter; and a 8. of the Philippines for not less than two years before election day. Meanwhile, the constitution provides for the following criteria to become a member of the House of Representatives: a natural-born citizen of the Philippines; at least 9. years old; is able to read and write, and except the party-list representatives, a 10. voter and a resident for at least one year in the district where s/he shall be elected. The 11. function of Congress is very important. It passes laws that regulate the conduct of and relations between the 12. citizens and the government. It defines and punishes 13. against the state and against persons and their property. It determines the 14. people should pay for the maintenance of the government. It 15. the money to be spent for public purposes. It can reorganize, create, or abolish offices under the civil service. And it can create and abolish courts, except the 16. Finally, it is only Congress which was given by the 17. the sole power to declare 18. and to 19. the President - in case of national emergency or war - to 20. executive orders embodying rules and regulations intended to carry out the national policy.​