THE LIFE AND WORKS OF JOSE RIZAL Step 4. Second Reading CHAPTER I: Understanding the Rizal Law • the bill is read and discussed on the floor • author delivers a sponsorship speech BILL - a measure which, if passed through the legislative process, becomes a law UNEXPURGATED - basically untouched; those that were not changed or censored tot remove parts that might offend people • other members of the senate may engage in discussions regarding the bill and a period of debates will pursue Step 5. Voting on Second Reading • senators vote on whether to approve or reject • if approved, it is calendared for third reading BICAMERAL - involving the two chambers of Congress: the Senate and the House of Representatives Step 6. Voting on Third Reading How a BILL becomes a LAW: The Legislative Process Legislative proposals emanate from a number of sources. They may be authored by the members of the Senate or House as part of their advocacies and agenda - produced through the lobbying from various sectors - initiated by the government with the President’s legislative agenda. • copies of the final versions of the bill are distributed to the members of the senate who will vote for its approval or rejection Step 7. Consolidation of Version from the House • if there are differences between the Senate and House versions, a bicameral conference committee is call to reconcile the two Step 8. Transmittal of the Final Version to Malacañang Step 1. Bill is filed in the Senate Office of the Secretary. • It is given a number and calendared for first reading • the bill is then submitted to the president for signing, he/she can either sign the bill to law or veto and return it to Congress Step 2. First Reading • the bill’s title, number and authors are read on the floor • then, it is referred to the appropriate committee Step 3. Committee Hearings • the bill is discussed within the committee and a period of consultations is held • the committee can approve or reject - approve without revisions - approve with amendments - recommend substitution/consolidation with similar bills • then, the committee submits the committee report and the bill is calendared for a second hearing Passage of the Republic Act No. 1425 or the Rizal Law - was set to address “a need for re-dedication to the ideals of freedom and nationalism for which our heroes lived and died” - it was met with fierce opposition in both the Senate and the House of Representatives From Rizal Bill to Rizal Law - April 3, 1956, Senate Bill No. 438 was filed by the Senate Committee on Education - April 17, 1956, Senate Committee on Education, Jose P. Laurel, sponsored the bill and began delivering speeches for the proposed legislation - April 23, 1956, the debates started between Claro M. Recto, the main author of the bill, and his allies against the powerful Catholic Church and other members of the senate - April 19, 1956, House Bill No. 5561, an identical version of Senate Bill 438, was filed by Representative Jacobo Z. Gonzales - May 2, 1956, the House Committee on Education approved the bill without amendments - May 9, 1956, the debates commenced, the major point was whether the compulsory reading of the texts Noli Me Tangere & El Filibusterismo was constitutional. Senator P. Laurel proposed amendments, removing the compulsory reading of Rizal’s novels - May 14, 1956, similar amendments were adopted to the House of Representatives - May 17, 1956, the Senate and the House versions were approved and transmitted to Malacañang on June 12, 1956, President Magsaysay signed the bill into law which became Republic Act No. 1425 Claro M. Recto (Feb. 8, 1890-Oct. 2, 1960) - born in Tiaong, Tayabas (Quezon) - Parents: Claro Recto, Sr. & Micaela Mayo - In 1909, he completed his AB degree at Ateneo and was awarded maxima cum laude - In 1914, he finished his law degree at UST - In 1919, he was elected as representative of the third district of Batangas, later became House Minority Floor Leader - 1931, he was elected as senator where he held the key positions such as Minority Floor Leader, Majoprity Floor Leader and Senate President Pro-Tempore - 1935, he became Associate Justice of the Supreme Court - he was the main sponsor, the main author and defender of the Rizal Bill - known as an ardent nationalist - he was a man of letters, he penned beautiful poetry and prose - he died of a heart attack and was survived by his wife, Aurora Reyes and their five children
