Civil Service Exam (Subprofessional) General Information — Government Structure — Legislative, Executive & JudicialCheat Sheet
Government Structure — Legislative, Executive & Judicial cheat sheet for Civil Service Exam (Subprofessional) aspirants. If you could only take one sheet of paper into your review session, this is what it would look like. Civil Service Commission (CSC)'s most-tested concepts, all in one place.
Exam context
The Career Service Examination — Subprofessional Level is conducted by Civil Service Commission (CSC) and is scheduled for Bi-annual — March and August 2026. The General Information subtest is marked as "~15% weightage" in the official pattern, and Government Structure — Legislative, Executive & Judicial appears in position 2nd of 7 in the Civil Service Exam (Subprofessional) General Information review rotation. Passing mark: 80%. Recent Civil Service Exam (Subprofessional) 2026 papers have drawn roughly 17 questions from this subject.
Government Structure — Legislative, Executive & Judicial - Cheat Sheet
Your last-minute revision companion for understanding the three branches of Philippine government structure, qualifications, powers, and constitutional provisions.
Sections
Section Title
Legislative Department (Congress)
Important Facts
- Senate: 24 members, 6-year term, maximum 2 terms, nationwide election
- House: Maximum 250 members, 3-year term, maximum 3 terms, district-based
- Senator qualifications: Natural-born, 35+ years, literate, 2-year resident
- Congressman qualifications: Natural-born, 25+ years, literate, registered voter, 1-year resident
- Congress regular session: 4th Monday of July to June of succeeding year
- Party-list needs 2% of votes for one representative seat
Key Definitions
Term
Legislative Power
Example
Congress enacting Republic Act No. 7941 (Party-List System Act)
Definition
Authority under the Constitution to make laws and to alter and repeal them
Term
Bicameral System
Example
Philippines has 24 senators and maximum 250 congressmen
Definition
Legislative branch divided into two chambers: Senate and House of Representatives
Term
Party-List System
Example
Labor, farmers, women, youth sectors get representatives with 2% vote threshold
Definition
Electoral system allowing sectoral representation in Congress for marginalized groups
Diagrams To Know
- How a Bill Becomes a Law flowchart
- Legislative Process in House and Senate
Section Title
Executive Department
Important Facts
- President and Vice President qualifications: Natural-born, registered voter, literate, 40+ years, 10-year resident
- Presidential term: 6 years, no reelection allowed
- President appoints cabinet members, ambassadors, bureau heads
- President can declare martial law (subject to Congress review)
- President grants reprieves, commutations, pardons, amnesty
- 16 Presidents from Aguinaldo (1899) to Duterte (2016-2022)
Key Definitions
Term
Executive Power
Example
President implementing and enforcing laws passed by Congress
Definition
Power to administer the laws, carrying them into practical operation and enforcing their due observance
Term
Commander-in-Chief
Example
President directing military operations and defense policies
Definition
Presidential power to command all Armed Forces of the Philippines
Term
Veto Power
Example
President refusing to sign a bill and returning it to Congress
Definition
Presidential authority to reject bills passed by Congress
Diagrams To Know
- Executive Department organizational structure
- Presidential succession line
Section Title
Judicial Department
Important Facts
- Supreme Court: 1 Chief Justice + 14 Associate Justices
- SC Justice qualifications: Natural-born, 40+ years, judge/lawyer for 15+ years
- Court of Appeals: Presiding Justice + 50 Associate Justices, 17 divisions
- Special courts: Sandiganbayan (corruption cases), Court of Tax Appeals
- SC can sit en banc or in divisions of 3, 5, or 7 members
- Regional Trial Courts preside in each region
Key Definitions
Term
Judicial Power
Example
Courts deciding cases and interpreting constitutional provisions
Definition
Power to apply laws to contests or disputes concerning legally recognized rights or duties
Term
Judicial Review
Example
SC declaring a law unconstitutional if it violates the Constitution
Definition
Supreme Court power to determine constitutionality of laws and government acts
Term
Court Hierarchy
Example
Supreme Court → Court of Appeals → Regional Trial Court → Municipal Court
Definition
Organized system of courts from Supreme Court down to municipal courts
Diagrams To Know
- Philippine Court System hierarchy
- Types of courts (Regular vs Special)
Section Title
Constitutional Commissions
Important Facts
- All commissioners: Natural-born, 35+ years, 7-year term without reappointment
- CSC: Chairman + 2 commissioners, administers merit system
- COMELEC: Chairman + 6 commissioners, majority must be lawyers with 10+ years practice
- COA: Chairman + 2 commissioners, must be CPAs with 10+ years or lawyers with 10+ years
- Election period: 90 days before to 30 days after election
- All commissions independent from political interference
Key Definitions
Term
Constitutional Commissions
Example
CSC administers civil service, COMELEC conducts elections, COA audits government
Definition
Three independent commissions: Civil Service, Elections, and Audit
Term
Civil Service
Example
Government employees appointed based on merit and fitness
Definition
Career service system embracing all government branches and instrumentalities
Term
Electoral Process
Example
COMELEC supervising national and local elections
Definition
System of conducting free, fair, and credible elections
Diagrams To Know
- Constitutional Commissions structure
- Election timeline and processes
Common Values
Value
17
Symbol
Regions
Quantity
Total Regions
Value
81
Symbol
Provinces
Quantity
Total Provinces
Value
24
Symbol
Senators
Quantity
Senate Members
Value
15
Symbol
1 Chief + 14 Associate
Quantity
Supreme Court Justices
Section Title
Local Government and Administrative Divisions
Important Facts
- 17 Regions, 81 provinces, 144 cities, 1,490 municipalities, 42,029 barangays (2017)
- Region → Province → City/Municipality → Barangay hierarchy
- Component cities are part of provinces; independent cities are not
- NCR has 17 cities/municipalities including Manila and Quezon City
- ARMM (now BARMM) covers Muslim Mindanao areas
- CAR covers Cordillera mountain provinces
Key Definitions
Term
Local Government Unit
Example
Province, city, municipality, barangay
Definition
Political subdivision with substantial control of local affairs
Term
Barangay
Example
Less than 1,000 inhabitants, headed by punong barangay
Definition
Smallest political unit, basic unit of Philippine political system
Term
Highly Urbanized City
Example
Independent of provincial supervision
Definition
City with 200,000+ population and P100M+ annual income
Diagrams To Know
- Philippine administrative divisions map
- Local government hierarchy structure
Section Title
Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards (RA 6713)
Important Facts
- All public officials must uphold accountability, integrity, competence, loyalty
- SALN filing: Within 30 days of assumption, annually by April 30, within 30 days of separation
- Prohibited: Accepting gifts, outside employment conflicts, misuse of confidential info
- Divestment required within 60 days if business interests conflict
- Penalties: Fine up to 6 months salary, suspension up to 1 year, or removal
- Criminal penalties: Up to 5 years imprisonment or P5,000 fine
Key Definitions
Term
Public Trust
Example
Officials must serve public interest over personal interest
Definition
Principle that public office is held in trust for the people
Term
SALN
Example
Annual declaration of wealth and financial interests
Definition
Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth that public officials must file
Term
Conflict of Interest
Example
Official owning shares in company regulated by their office
Definition
Situation where personal interests may conflict with official duties
Diagrams To Know
- SALN filing timeline and requirements
- Prohibited acts and transactions flowchart
Must Remember
- Senate: 24 members, 6-year terms, 2-term limit, age 35+, nationwide election
- House: Max 250 members, 3-year terms, 3-term limit, age 25+, district election
- President: 6-year term, NO reelection, age 40+, 10-year residency
- Supreme Court: 1 Chief Justice + 14 Associates, age 40+, 15-year legal experience
- Constitutional Commissions: CSC, COMELEC, COA - all independent, 7-year terms
- Party-list system: 2% threshold for seat, represents marginalized sectors
- Bill to law: 3 readings in each chamber, bicameral conference if needed
- SALN filing: 30 days after assumption, annually by April 30, 30 days after separation
- Local government levels: Region → Province → City/Municipality → Barangay
- 17 regions, 81 provinces, 144 cities, 1,490 municipalities, 42,029 barangays
Last Minute Tips
- Remember the specific age requirements: Senate 35+, House 25+, President/VP 40+, SC Justice 40+
- Don't confuse term limits: Senate 2 terms max, House 3 terms max, President NO reelection
- Constitutional Commissions all have 7-year terms WITHOUT reappointment - key difference from other positions
- Party-list system requires exactly 2% of votes for first seat - not majority or plurality
- SALN must be filed three times: assumption, annually, and separation - memorize the 30-day and April 30 deadlines
Comparison Tables
Rows
Values
- 24
- Maximum 250
Property
Number of Members
Values
- 6 years
- 3 years
Property
Term of Office
Values
- 2 terms max
- 3 terms max
Property
Term Limits
Values
- 35+ years
- 25+ years
Property
Age Requirement
Values
- Nationwide
- District-based
Property
Election Scope
Values
- 2 years
- 1 year
Property
Residency Requirement
Columns
- Feature
- Senate
- House of Representatives
Table Title
Senate vs House of Representatives
Rows
Values
- Chairman + 2 Commissioners
- Administer merit system
Property
Civil Service Commission
Values
- Chairman + 6 Commissioners
- Conduct elections
Property
Commission on Elections
Values
- Chairman + 2 Commissioners
- Audit government funds
Property
Commission on Audit
Columns
- Commission
- Composition
- Primary Function
Table Title
Constitutional Commissions Comparison
Rows
Values
- Chief Justice + 14 Associates
- Constitutional review, final appeals
Property
Supreme Court
Values
- Presiding Justice + 50 Associates
- Appeals from trial courts
Property
Court of Appeals
Values
- RTC Judges
- Major cases in regions
Property
Regional Trial Court
Values
- MTC Judges
- Minor cases in municipalities
Property
Municipal Trial Court
Columns
- Court Level
- Composition
- Jurisdiction
Table Title
Court System Hierarchy
Previous chapter
Philippine Constitution — Preamble, Declaration of Principles & Bill of Rights
Next chapter
Constitutional Commissions & Local Government
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